Basil Netherby (Scarce Horror)

Extended Description and Notes

Hutchinson & Co., Ltd, [1926]. Hardcover. Good. Collectible first edition of English essayist, poet and academic Arthur Christopher Benson's Basil Netherby, a collection of two posthumously published horror stories discovered by his brother Fred after A. C.'s death. In the context of his main body of work, Benson's two stories are joltingly anomalous, perhaps especially so given that his father was Edward White Benson (1829â1896), Archbishop of Canterbury. Scantily reviewed in its first appearance, "Basil Netherby" and its companion story, "The Uttermost Farthing" made little noise in British literature but through the years "Basil Netherby" especially has evolved into a work celebrated for its brilliance. Noted horror critic R. S. Hadji included Benson's "Basil Netherby" on a list of "unjustly neglected" horror books. Per Hutchinson's practice for designating first editions, no statement of edition is present. However, a 19-page Hutchinson catalog of new titles is dated Autumn, 1926, presumably the year of publication, and the Catalog of Copyright Entries notes a Library of Congress control copy receipt on September 4, 1926. Bound in dark burgundy cloth with lettering and devices to spine panel. Complete as issued. 211 pp. plus catalog. Lacks issued dust jacket. Slight bumping to extremities with no cloth penetration. Several faint stains to front panel. A presentable copy of an now important horror collectible. Scarce. At present no other copies listed in commerce. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Bookseller

Midnight Books (US)

Bookseller's Inventory #

377088

Title

Basil Netherby (Scarce Horror)

Author

A. C. Benson

Format/Binding

Hardcover

Book Condition

Used - Good

Quantity Available

1

Publisher

Hutchinson & Co., Ltd

Date Published

1926

Weight

0.00 lbs

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Spine

The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....

Jacket

Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...

First Edition

In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...

Cloth

"Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...

New

A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...