Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Christopher Marsden. BRITAIN IN PICTURES THE ENGLISH AT THE SEASIDE. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$19.11 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: This near fine copy is bound in paper covered boards, bright, tight, white, bright and square. There is an attractive bookplate to the front paste down and also a small label from the issuing bookseller (Dickens Bookshop, Exeter) The unclipped dust wrapper has some mild edge wear but is still in very good condition. International postal rates are calculated on a book weighing 1 Kilo, in cases where the book weighs less then postage will be reduced accordingly. Where the book weighs more than 1 Kilo increased charges will be quoted. With most of Europe in Adolf Hitler's hands, Britain was in a grim predicament in 1941 but that year Collins, the publisher now known as HarperCollins, launched the remarkable Britain In Pictures series of social history books. The books were designed not only to boost morale but perhaps also to record the British way of life in case the Germans completed their European campaign by successfully crossing the English Channel. The books were slim volumes with distinctive elegant covers, but it was the star-studded array of authors that made the series really special. George Orwell wrote about the British people, Cecil Beaton wrote about English photography, the great poet and printer Francis Meynell wrote about English books, John Betjeman (who penned the immortal line" Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough" in 1937) wrote about cities and towns, Graham Greene wrote about dramatists, the doyen of sports journalists Neville Cardus wrote about cricket and Edith Sitwell wrote about women. Some of the authors have faded in obscurity but they were all experts in their field during those dark days of World War II. A wide variety of subjects were covered from battlefields to boxing, clocks to mountaineering, butterflies to farm animals, and from waterways and canals to maps and map-makers. In all, there were were 132 titles. For many collectors, obtaining the entire series of Britain in Pictures books is an obsession. Despite wartime paper rationing this series was considered by the government of considerable importance allowing Collins to publish the books in large quantities and priced them cheaply. Ref XX2
Seller: Amazing Book Company, Liphook, United Kingdom
Price: US$25.48 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: This copy is in new, unmarked condition bound in illustrated paper covered boards. This copy is bright, tight, white and square. There is some typical offsetting to the endpapers. Notwithstanding, this is in remarkably well preserved condition. The unclipped dust wrapper is in new condition. International postal rates are calculated on a book weighing 1 Kilo, in cases where the book weighs more than 1 Kilo increased postal rates will be quoted, where the book weighs less then postage will be reduced accordingly. With most of Europe in Adolf Hitler’s hands, Britain was in a grim predicament in 1941 but that year Collins, the publisher now known as Harper Collins, launched the remarkable Britain In Pictures series of social history books. The books were designed not only to boost morale but perhaps also to record the British way of life in case the Germans completed their European campaign by successfully crossing the English Channel. The books were slim volumes with distinctive elegant covers, but it was the star-studded array of authors that made the series really special. George Orwell wrote about the British people, Cecil Beaton wrote about English photography, the great poet and printer Francis Meynell wrote about English books, John Betjeman (who penned the immortal line” Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough” in 1937) wrote about cities and towns, Graham Greene wrote about dramatists, the doyen of sports journalists Neville Cardus wrote about cricket and Edith Sitwell wrote about women. Some of the authors have faded in obscurity but they were all experts in their field during those dark days of World War Two. A wide variety of subjects were covered from battlefields to boxing, clocks to mountaineering, butterflies to farm animals, and from waterways and canals to maps and map-makers. In all, there were 132 titles. For many collectors, obtaining the entire series of Britain in Pictures books is an obsession. Despite wartime paper rationing this series was considered by the government of considerable importance allowing Collins to publish the books in large quantities and priced them cheaply. Ref CCC 5
Seller: Amazing Book Company, Liphook, United Kingdom
Orwell, George. The English People [Britain in Pictures No. 100]. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$33.04 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: VG/VG. 8vo. original green pictorial boards (slightly rubbed, endpapers a little offset, slight creasing to early leaves) in dustwrapper (a little rubbed & frayed, a few marks); pp. 48, with 17 black and white illustrations + 8 colour plates. A very good copy.
Seller: Arapiles Mountain Books - Mount of Alex, Castlemaine, VIC, Australia
Orwell, George. The English People [Britain in Pictures No. 100]. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$40.00 + shipping
Description: 23 x 16.5 cm. Octavo. 48pp. Green illustrated boards in dust jacket. Illustrated with 8 color plates and 17 black and white illustrations. Chipping to jacket spine and edges. Previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper.
Seller: Midway Book Store (ABAA), St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.
ORWELL, George.. The English People.. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$45.00 + shipping
Description: 48 pp. With eight plates in colour and 17 illustrations in black and white. 8vo, publisher's illustrated boards in dust jacket. First edition. Endsheets tanned; slight use at the bottom edge of the boards; a bright copy in a jacket with some tanning and tiny areas of rubbing. Britain in Pictures: The British People in Pictures.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
George Orwell. The English People. Collins, London, England, UK., 1947.
Price: US$49.95 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: The book and jacket are in very good condition, jacket has some shelf rubbing that has caused a small areas of colour to be lost, small tear to top of back jacket and a small amount of the bottom fore-edge corner is missing, jacket has been wrapped in brodart since for preservation purposes. Apart from stains from the jacket paper inside flap on the paste-down and page opposite the text and images inside appear clean and clear throughout. 'An essay by English author George Orwell, first published in August 1947. It was commissioned in September 1943 by W. J. Turner, Collins's general editor, for the series Britain in Pictures. The idea for the series came from the Ministry of Information. It is published with twenty-five illustrations, eight of which are full-page colour plates, and included work by artists Edward Ardizzone, Dame Laura Knight, L. S. Lowry, Henry Moore, John Minton, and Feliks Topolski. Orwell did not think highly of his own work. He described it as "silly" and "propaganda", and refused to allow it to be reprinted. However he was known to be critical of his work regardless of its quality.' 48 pages. 6.5 x 9 inches. May require additional postage. This listing was made by a small independent book shop. We carefully inspect every single book we list and give accurate descriptions. If you require we will promptly send pictures of listed books upon request Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall
Seller: Companion Books, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$63.70 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Britain in Pictures. DJ tanned with loss to head and foot of spine and chipped edges. Head and foot of spine split, owner name to ffep, contents good Size: 8vo 0.0
Seller: Bookcase, Carlisle, United Kingdom
Orwell, George (Text by); W. J. Turner (General Editor). The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$65.00 + shipping
Description: Quarto (9 x 6 1/2"). 47, [1]pp. Original illustrated dust-jacket over matching illustrated paper covered boards, with white lettering to front cover and spine. Publisher's device on title page. "The English People" is an essay by English author George Orwell, first published in August 1947. It was commissioned in September 1943 by W. J. Turner, Collins's General Editor, for the series 'Britain in Pictures.' The idea for the series came from the Ministry of Information. It was published with twenty-five illustrations, eight of which were full-page color plates, and included work by artists Edward Ardizzone, Dame Laura Knight, L. S. Lowry, Henry Moore, John Minton, and Feliks Topolski amongst others. Written during World War II, it presents Orwell's vision of what it meant to be "English." Orwell did not think highly of his own work. He described it as "silly" and "propaganda", and refused to allow it to be reprinted." Dust-jacket slightly rubbed and partly chipped along edges. Offsetting to endpapers. DJ in overall good- to good, binding and interior in very good condition.
Seller: ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
Orwell, George. The English People. Britain in Pictures No 100. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$74.91 + shipping
Description: 220mm x 170mm (9" x 7"). 48pp. With rubbed and chipped dust jacket. VG: in very good condition. Eps darkened with college stamp
Seller: Barter Books Ltd, Alnwick, NORTH, United Kingdom
Price: US$76.87 + shipping
Description: Gr.-8°. 47, (1) S. Illustrierter Original-Pappband mit Schutzumschlag. Schutzumschlag geringf. beschädigt. Vorsätze gebräunt und mit hs. Besitzvermerk. Sprache: Englisch
Seller: Antiquariat Schmetz am Dom, Aachen, Germany
Orwell, George. THE ENGLISH PEOPLE. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$97.75 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 48 pages. Lovely book with 8 plates in color and 17 b/w illustrations. Pages good condition. Previous owner's name, book plate on ffrp. Green cloth, white illustration and titles. Edges and corners lightly worn and bumped. Green dust jacket with same white illustration and tiles. Edges and corners lightly worn. VG/VG
Seller: J. Wyatt Books, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Price: US$101.92 + shipping
Description: First edition. Collins, London. 1947. Britain in Pictures series. DW. 48 pages. Sl. wear to extremities of DW esp. spine. Book itself clean and sound except for sl. rubbing to extremities and browning to end-papers.
Seller: Addyman Books, Hay-on-Wye, United Kingdom
Price: US$108.29 + shipping
Description: First edition thus. Original green card covers, staple-bound. No dustwrapper, as issued. 16 pp of text with 5 illustrations. A near fine copy with minimal rubbing to the very extremities. Containing two of the five essays from The English People, following the format of the first edition and reproducing the covers and title page. Scarce in this format. (Fenwick A.11b.) Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.
Seller: LUCIUS BOOKS (ABA, ILAB, PBFA), York, United Kingdom
ORWELL, GEORGE. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$112.29 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 8vo. Green paper boards with letters in white and matching dust jacket. Part of Britain in Pictures series. This is a very sharp copy with only minor barely visible scuffs and stains.
Seller: Karol Krysik Books ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA, Toronto, ON, Canada
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A Very Good copy of the first edition, first printing (being a bit askew and showing some edgewear along with a wound and some glossy spots to the front board) in the Publisher's original green cloth with white lettering and decoration, in an about Fine example of the original green dust jacket also lettered and decorated in white and showing only minor lettering -- less than we typically see. The volume is mildly askew and shows some rubbing to the spine ends, board bottoms and board corners. Within, there are six (6) colour plates and numerous black and white illustrations to accompany them. The front and rear free endpapers show some offsetting and the pastedowns show some creasing (a presumed production flaw). The text to the front flap is itself and interesting read, stating in part: "Those who read this book may find much to make them angry -- much with which they disagree. They will also find matter for pride. But it is always better to be self-critical and to leave praise to others." Altogether, this is a rather nice copy.
Seller: Allington Antiquarian Books, LLC (IOBA), Winston-Salem, NC, U.S.A.
GEORGE ORWELL.. The English People.. Collins, 'Britain in Pictures' series, London, 1947.
Price: US$127.40 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition (first printing) of Orwell's self-described "piece of propaganda for the British Council" (the publisher subsequently demanded textural changes, but Orwell refused to comply). Tall 8vo. 47pp. Paper-covered boards. With six colour plates reproducing works by John Minton (his superb hop picking watercolour 'In the Country'), Edward Ardizzone, L.S.Lowry &c., and seventeen monochrome reproduction in the text (works by Sickert, Topolski, Pissarro, Anthony Gross, Henry Moore, Laura Knight &c.). Some light partial toning to the free endpapers. A virtually fine copy in dust wrapper, with a little wear to the extremities, and a two-inch diagonal tear to the base of the front panel. One of the more desirable volumes of the Britain in Pictures series. Fenwick A11.a.
Seller: Clearwater Books, London, United Kingdom
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$131.01 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 8vo. Green paper boards in matching dust jacket. Very light rubbing to the bottom of boards and tiny nicks to the spine ends, jacket with light rubbing along the spine, endpapers a little tanned from the dj flap, but overall a sharp copy.
Seller: Karol Krysik Books ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA, Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$137.26 + shipping
Description: Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; 47 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (part color) ; 23 cm. Subjects; National characteristics, English. England Civilisation 20th century. Great Britain Description and travel. Great Britain Social life and customs. 1 Kg.
Seller: MW Books Ltd., Galway, Ireland
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins 1947, London, 1947.
Price: US$140.14 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Edition. 48 pp. Green illustrated boards and pictorial dustjacket. Slight wear to jacket joints and edges with one or two spots. Boards clean and firm. Ink inscriptiojn dated 1947 to ffep., and bookplate to front pastedown; minor offsetting to endpapers, otherwise internally clean. Illustrated throughout with 8 colour and 17 black and white plates. Volume in the Britain in Pictures series. 8vo.
Seller: Foster Books - Stephen Foster - ABA, ILAB, & PBFA, London, United Kingdom
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Bright green dj with slight chips to top of spine and light rubbing to corners and edges; book in bright condition with browning to end papers; interesting illustrated book by Orwell with 8 color plates and 17 in b&w Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Cornelius Muhilly Rare Books, Kansas City, MO, U.S.A.
ORWELL, George.. The English People.. Collins, London., 1947.
Price: US$159.26 + shipping
Description: First edition. Issued in the Britain in Pictures series. Octavo. 48 pages. Boards. Issued in the Britain in Pictures series. Eight colour plates and seventeen black and white illustrations in the text.Free endpapers partially tanned. Tail of spine a bit bumped. Near fine in very good indeed, slightly nicked dustwrapper a bit rubbed at head and tail of spine.
Seller: Peter Ellis, Bookseller, ABA, ILAB, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$160.00 + shipping
Description: Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; 47 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (part color) ; 23 cm. Subjects; National characteristics, English. England Civilisation 20th century. Great Britain Description and travel. Great Britain Social life and customs. 1 Kg.
Seller: MW Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
ORWELL GEORGE. THE ENGLISH PEOPLE - Collana BRITAIN IN PICTURES. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$169.11 + shipping
Description: 8 tavole a colori ante-retro e 17 illustrazioni in b/n n.t.Ed. Collins- Londra,I edizione 1947.Cartonato editoriale con sovraccoperta originale. Piccolo taglio al margine basso del dorso della sola sovraccoperta. Leggere traccedi umidità ai risguardi. Peraltro libro in stato di nuovo. 16,5x23; pp.48. OTTIMO STATO , Ottimo (Fine)
Seller: L'Angolo del Collezionista di B. Pileri, Rignano Flaminio, RM, Italy
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$206.00 + shipping
Description: Octavo. 47 (1) pp. The author is known as a distinguished political journalist, and he is also distinguished for his honest opinion. In this book, many will agree with his opinion and there will be those who disagree. This is a book of a particular political bias and should provoke those of contrary opinion to examine their own beliefs without sentimentality or hypocrisy. A near fine copy bound in green pictorial paper covered boards lettered and decorated in white, some off-setting to endpapers from binder's glue, in minor light wear to spine ends and corners, in a very nice dust jacket with light wear to spine ends and corners.
Seller: Alcuin Books, ABAA/ILAB, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.
Orwell George. THE ENGLISH PEOPLE.. London Collins 1947, 1947.
Price: US$214.50 + shipping
Description: First edition. With 8 Colour Plates and 17 black and white Illustrations. 8vo, bound in the original publisher's illustrated boards, and with the colour dustjacket. 47 pp. A fine copy, the jacket with only very minor rubbing at the edges or folds. FIRST EDITION. FROM THE BRITAIN IN PICTURES SERIES. A FINE COPY AND QUITE A PLEASING BOOK. Colourplates and black and white illustrations and text on the English people as seen through the eyes and political ideology of George Orwell, the author of ANIMAL FARM and 1984, those brilliant satirical works on society, revolution and the crushing of freedoms. It is a book which provokes and causes one to examine one's own thinking and beliefs.
Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.
Orwell, George. The English People. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$216.00 + shipping
Description: Bound in publisher's original green paper covered boards printed in white. From the Britain in Pictures series. 8 plates in colour and 17 illustrations in black & white. Some offsetting to front and rear free end papers as usual otherwish fine.
Seller: James & Mary Laurie, Booksellers A.B.A.A, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
ORWELL George. The English People. , 1947.
Price: US$275.19 + shipping
Description: Illustrations. First edition. Large 8vo., original pictorial boards, dust jacket. London, Collins. Commissioned by the publisher at the suggestion of the Ministry of Information, with illustrations by many of the great illustrators of the day, from Ardizzone, John Minton, Henry Moore, L.S. Lowry and others, Orwell's idea of what it is to be English. Faint partial offsetting to endpapers as usual, otherwise internally clean, some light wear to extremities of jacket, small area of brown staining to lower corner of front panel, notwithstanding a very good copy indeed.
Seller: Maggs Bros. Ltd ABA, ILAB, PBFA, BA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$286.66 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First impression of the true first edition. With eight plates in colour and seventeen illustrations in black and white. ***Near fine in green illustrated boards. Extremities of boards just very slightly rubbed - far less than is usually found. Very light production crease to the back board - hardly noticeable. No bumps or creases to the fragile boards. Corners sharp. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. Light offsetting as usual to the front and rear free endpapers. No foxing. Pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In a near fine green illustrated dustwrapper, which replicates the design on the boards. Extremities of dustwrapper just very slightly rubbed, mainly at the top of the spine. No chips, tears or creasing. No fading. Dustwrapper bright. ***228mm x 168mm. 48 pages. ***'The author of 'Animal Farm', that brilliant satire on revolution, should need no introduction to English readers. Typically English, is Mr. Orwell's capacity to look with critical eyes upon his fellow citizens. It is part of his love for them. ***Those who read this book may find much to make them angry - much with which they will disagree. They will also find matter for pride. But it is always better to be self-critical and to leave praise to others. Those who want kind words will find them abundantly in such a book as Mr. Alfred Perles' recent 'Round Trip'. ***Mr. George Orwell is a distinguished political journalist - distinguished especially for his honesty of opinion. This is a book with a particular political bias and should provide those of contrary opinion to examine their own beliefs without sentimentality or hypocrisy.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***First impression of the true first edition in its original 1940s dustwrapper. Copies of this work are not that hard to find, but to find one in presentable condition with a complete dustwrapper is more of a challenge. Due to the fragile nature of the binding, copies in this unblemished near fine state are exceptionally difficult to come by. Of interest to collectors of first editions by George Orwell. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.
Seller: Orlando Booksellers, Lincoln, United Kingdom
George Orwell. THE ENGLISH PEOPLE. Collins, London, 1947.
Price: US$307.95 + shipping
Description: Very Good+ in a Very Good dust jacket. Small closed tears on top front panel and spine crown. Scratch on front panel. Shelfwear on spine edges and panel corners.
Seller: Rare Book Cellar, Pomona, NY, U.S.A.
ORWELL, George.. The English People.. London: Collins, 1947, 1947.
Price: US$382.21 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression, of the author's celebrated study of the English character. Orwell's essay was commissioned to promote English values and to describe aspects of English life during the Second World War, although it was not published until after the war's conclusion. The book was commissioned by Collins's general editor W. J. Turner in September 1943 for the Britain in Pictures series. The brainchild of the Ministry of Information's Hilda Matheson (1888-1940), the propaganda series presented "the most eloquent case for Britain as a free society" during, and in the aftermath of, the Second World War (Windeatt). Orwell's contribution to the series was to describe the ethos of the English, from their faults - snobbishness, insularity, anachronistic class divisions - to their achievements and essentially humane political culture and peaceful outlook, an important model to offer to war-torn Europe. Orwell's socialist politics runs through the book: it is only with the empowerment of the common people, he argues, that England can remain a great nation in the post-war world. The work's radical nature, and Orwell's refusal to amend the negative aspects of the text, almost prevented its publication. Collins later declared, "typically English, is Mr. Orwell's capacity to look with critical eyes upon his fellow citizens. It is part of his love for them" (jacket blurb). Carney, Britain in Pictures: A History and Bibliography 100; Fenwick A11a. Barry Windeatt, "Rare Book Series: 'Britain in Pictures' (1941-1950)", Emmanuel College, Cambridge, accessible online. Octavo. Original green boards, spine and front cover lettered in white, vignette on front cover in white, covers with white borders. With dust jacket. With 8 colour plates, illustrations in the text by artists including Edward Ardizzone, L. S. Lowry, Walter Sickert, and Henry Moore. Book and jacket designed by a London-based group of Austrian-Jewish refugees. Minor paper reisude to front and rear covers, very light bumping and rubbing at spine ends; jacket with very minor rubbing at extremities, without price as issued. A near-fine copy in like jacket.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom