SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH – H. P. Lovecraft Rare First Edition
Item History & Price
Reference Number: Avaluer:577825 |
Here is a chanceto own perhaps one of the finest examples of H. P. Lovecraft's classic THESHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH published by Visionary Publishing Company in Everett, PA.in 1936. A rare book, thepublisher has stated that around 200 copies were bound (see publisher WilliamH. Crawford’s article "Lovecraft's First Book" in THE SHUTTERED ROOM by Lovecraft publishedby Arkham House in 1959). Publisher Crawfordis noted for a lifetime of eccentric printing, often evidenced... by manydifferent states of bindings & typography, with the finished productusually not up to a professional book publishing standard of quality. This title is no exception. According to bibliographies 2 differentstyles of stamping on the front cover have been seen (this copy being one ofthose printed in silver in both upper & lower case type). Also, variants of the dust jacket have beennoted by science fiction bibliographer L. W. Currey, the one on this copy beingwhite paper with the name "H. P. LOVECRAFT" printed horizontallyunder the title. There is no priority asto either the bindings or the dust jackets, and according to sources the dustjackets were printed after the book was published, and came on some of thelater sold copies as well as being sent to some of those who had earlierpurchased jacketless copies. Furthermore, after publication Crawford printed a one-sheet errata pagecorrecting some of his printing errors. This copy looksabout as nice as possible given the publisher's professional capabilities. There is a slight wrinkling to the cloth onthe spine (due to publisher's hand binding), and the silver stamping to thepublisher’s name on the spine appears somewhat rubbed, probably due to handlingduring binding in the production process. Otherwise there is very little noticeable wear to the book. This copy comes with a very slightly dustydust wrapper and with the scarce errata slip, as shown in the photographs.