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Ransome, Arthur : The Picts and the Martyrs, or Not Welcome At all

Jonathan Cape, 1984

ISBN 0224606417

[Swallows And Amazons #11] Published in 1943 it is " The last completed book set in the Lake District and features the Blackett sisters, the Amazons and the Callum siblings, Dick and Dorothea, known as the Ds. Ransome's most native character, the Great Aunt also features prominently as do many aspects of Lakeland life. The Dog's Home is based on a small stone hut built in the woods above Coniston Water close to Ransome's then residence" 340p. illus [B & W] maps Coloured charts on end papers.[ The list of titles on the back of the DJ was marked off by the previous owner] 340p.illus [B & W] map. Coloured sea charts on end papers. .illus ' The previous owner used the series list on the back of the DJ to mark the titles already read, else fine EKLSE. Illustr.: Arthurr Ransoms e. Book. Book Condition: Fine. Binding: Hardcover. Jacket: Near Fine - Price Clipped

Revised Edition

RANSOME**, ARTHUR: : THE PICTS AND THE MARTYRS: or, Not Welcome at All

LONDON.JONATHAN CAPE,1943.

ISBN No ISBN.

UK,8vo HB minus dw/dj,1st edn.[True 1st edn,1st print,stated first published 1943.Book is produced in complete conformity with the authorized economy standards.] No owner inscrptn.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean, generally sharp-cornered - merest hint of gentle curl or push - original plain dark green cloth boards blocked blind titleing to top edge of front board,spine/backstrip with bright,crisp, blocked gilt lettering and publisher's colophon to foot of same,rear board plain and undecorated.Bright,crisp,clean,4-colour block (b/w,blue-grey and green) pictorial map illustrated endpapers with no hinge cracking. Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corners - no nicks,tears,splits or fraying present,both head+foot of spine/backstrip with minimal bumping.Top+fore-edges though lightly aged/toned are clean without foxing to top edges and a small blemish on fore-edge but with no other foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,appears unread other than my own collation.UK,8vo HB minus,1st edn,5-302pp [paginated] includes Contents list/table with Illustrations list/table to its reverse,XXX (30) chapters,b/w line illustrations by the author throughout the text and the book; plus [unpaginated] lightly and faintly sporadically foxed half-title with b/w illustrated frntis to its reverse - hinge cracked,minimal spotting to crossed flags illustrated title page with a dedication to its reverse.         Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional,and even internally,the book is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of its 80-year-old age and nature, i.e. a child’s book and particularly without its protective dw/dj. It is only the exterior faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading.Despite them and the missing dw/dj,it really is an exceptional,exemplary example for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of other major detracting faults.                                Uncommonly bright,clean,solid and sound example - particularly of this 1st edn title,and its presentation,in a book of its age,and also given it's period of production, i.e. 1940-1947 - with wartime paper-rationing,and the poor quality of cheap paper stock generally used and survival rates of air-raids on domestic and commercial properties i.e publishers+printers.Most of the books produced would have been of substandard quality and prone to subsequent disintegration and usually discarded or not survive at all. With war-time paper rationing and conservation of that and other materials,pulping was actively encouraged,so publishers with restricted and limited quantities for publishing,opted towards highly acidic and therefore cheaper paper, allowing for more books to be produced.Books made with this cheaper material tend to degrade faster,exhibiting several faults,blemishes, foxing/spotting etc.,and subsequently are uncommon and harder to find in a particularly fine condition.                                 The  eleventh book in Arthur Ransome's 'Swallows and Amazons' series of children's books. It was published in 1943.This is the penultimate completed book,set in the Lake District and features the Blackett sisters,the Amazons and the Callum siblings,Dick and Dorothea,known as the Ds. Ransome's most native character,the Great Aunt also features prominently as do many aspects of Lakeland life. The Dog's Home is based on a small stone hut built in the woods above Coniston Water close to Ransome's then residence. Those two Blackett sisters are back at it again, and Nancy is right there in the thick of it.Their mother (doubtless suffering from exhaustion) has gone off sailing in the North Sea with Captain Flint on a rest cure,but she has allowed her two daughters to stay a fortnight at Beckfoot on the lakeshore with their trusty cook.She’s also permitted their two old friends,Dick and Dorothea Callum, to come up for a visit.                                      But when their redoubtable Great Aunt (a.k.a. G.A.) hears of their abandonment,she’s horrified and off on the next train.The Amazons are dismayed; not only will their solo holiday be ruined,but now they’ll have to hide their two guests in the woods in an abandoned shepherd’s cottage where they’ll be forced to live off the land like savages (ergo “The Picts”),while they’ll be required to dress up in white pinafores,practice the piano-forte, and recite reams of parlor poetry aloud (ergo “The Martyrs”). Not much stretch here; no one dares trifle with the G. A.                         As usual with Ransome,the fun is gentle,the action nonstop,and the instructions on everything from tickling trout to setting anchors are precise and informed.Even the formidable aunt proves to have virtues,not the least of which is her ability to say she’s sorry.                                      Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight of this item,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!          N.B. ALL buyers please note,that stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE.    ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from the UK to these destinations can now cost more the the price of any inexpensive book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1.2 of the standard US AIR quotrate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,8vo HB minus dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

Ransome, Arthur : THE PICTS and THE MARTYRS or, NOT WELCOME AT ALL

Jonathan Cape, London, 1945

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 303pp, illus.throughout with pen and ink drawings by the author. Dec. end-papers. Binding faded but a tight clean reading copy.. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: green cloth, gilt. Jacket: No Jacket

4th impression

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