Poems.

first impression of the limited edition

The most important book of poetry from the First World War, exceptionally rare in the dustjacket.

Only 1000 copies of this monumental collection were printed, with a second impression coming out the following year. It is worth noting that jackets of the second impression are very similar to those on the first. The key, therefore, is to note the condition of the spine of the book itself. Crucially, to be correct it must be entirely unfaded, as in this example.

Owen is widely regarded as the best of all the Great War poets. He famously died in the very last days of the war having not published a book. Sassoon knew how good these poems were, and ensured they saw publication.

First edition, first impression, one of 1000 copies; 4to (22 x 17.5 cm); portrait frontispiece with tissue guard, page stock just a little toned as usual, partial offsetting to the endpapers; publisher's red cloth, paper title label to spine, cloth slightly mottled, light spotting to top edge, with the dustjacket, tape repairs at verso, loss at spine ends (costing some lettering) and bottom corner of front panel, light spotting, more so at verso, spine slightly darkened and rubbed, light creasing to extremities; an excellent copy.