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The seller states:
H. P. Lovecraft's classic THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH published by Visionary Publishing Company in Everett, PA. in 1936.
A rare book, the publisher has stated that around 200 copies were bound (see publisher William H. Crawford’s article "Lovecraft's First Book" in THE SHUTTERED ROOM by Lovecraft published by Arkham House in 1959).
Publisher Crawford is noted for a lifetime of eccentric printing, often evidenced by many different states of bindings & typography, with the finished product usually not up to a professional book publishing standard of quality. This title is no exception. According to bibliographies 2 different styles of stamping on the front cover have been seen (this copy being one of those printed in silver in both upper & lower case type). Also, variants of the dust jacket have been noted by science fiction bibliographer L. W. Currey, the one on this copy being white paper with the name "H. P. LOVECRAFT" printed horizontally under the title. There is no priority as to either the bindings or the dust jackets, and according to sources the dust jackets were printed after the book was published, and came on some of the later sold copies as well as being sent to some of those who had earlier purchased jacketless copies. Furthermore, after publication Crawford printed a one-sheet errata page correcting some of his printing errors.
This copy looks about as nice as possible given the publisher's professional capabilities. There is a slight wrinkling to the cloth on the spine (due to publisher's hand binding), and the silver stamping to the publisher’s name on the spine appears somewhat rubbed, probably due to handling during binding in the production process. Otherwise there is very little noticeable wear to the book. This copy comes with a slightly dusty dust wrapper and with the scarce errata slip, as shown in the photographs.
A rare book, the publisher has stated that around 200 copies were bound (see publisher William H. Crawford’s article "Lovecraft's First Book" in THE SHUTTERED ROOM by Lovecraft published by Arkham House in 1959).
Publisher Crawford is noted for a lifetime of eccentric printing, often evidenced by many different states of bindings & typography, with the finished product usually not up to a professional book publishing standard of quality. This title is no exception. According to bibliographies 2 different styles of stamping on the front cover have been seen (this copy being one of those printed in silver in both upper & lower case type). Also, variants of the dust jacket have been noted by science fiction bibliographer L. W. Currey, the one on this copy being white paper with the name "H. P. LOVECRAFT" printed horizontally under the title. There is no priority as to either the bindings or the dust jackets, and according to sources the dust jackets were printed after the book was published, and came on some of the later sold copies as well as being sent to some of those who had earlier purchased jacketless copies. Furthermore, after publication Crawford printed a one-sheet errata page correcting some of his printing errors.
This copy looks about as nice as possible given the publisher's professional capabilities. There is a slight wrinkling to the cloth on the spine (due to publisher's hand binding), and the silver stamping to the publisher’s name on the spine appears somewhat rubbed, probably due to handling during binding in the production process. Otherwise there is very little noticeable wear to the book. This copy comes with a slightly dusty dust wrapper and with the scarce errata slip, as shown in the photographs.
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