Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
George Bernard Shaw. An Unsocial Socialist. Lowrey & Co., Swan Sonnenschein, 1887.
Price: US$96.62 + shipping
Description: Good. markings on boards, Red Boards, some spotting on front pages. First.
Seller: The Small Library Company, London, United Kingdom
George Bernard Shaw. An Unsocial Socialist. Swan Sonnenschein, London, 1887.
Price: US$354.27 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: The first edition, first issue of George Bernard Shaw's early satirical novel regarding socialism. The first edition, first issue. With 'Sonnenshein', spelt incorrectly to the spine, 'Author of "Cashel Byron's Profession," etc.,etc.' to the title page, and no appendix. In the publisher's original full cloth binding. 'An Unsocial Socialist' is an early novel by George Bernard Shaw, exploring a satirical view of socialism. The story follows a rich socialist who decides to infiltrate a wealthy girls school, where the women are being raised to become the wives of the elite, and radicalise them with socialist views. George Bernard Shaw was a famous Irish playwright, author and political activist. He is best known for his plays, 'Man and Superman', 'Pygmalion', and, 'Saint Joan'. He was a prominent member of the socialist 'Fabian Society', a reader of Marx, and a believer of gradualism. Lacking the half title page. Previous owner's ink signature reading, 'Evelyn Monteith', to the reverse of the front free endpaper. In the original cloth binding. Externally, smart with shelf wear to the edges. Fraying and fading to the spine. Marks to the boards. Hinges strained but still firm. A few marks to the edge of the front free endpaper. Ink inscription from previous owner and marks to the reverse of the front free endpaper. Internally, binding strained. Lacking the half title page. Loss to the edges of pages 78, 80, 112, 130, 147 and 173-176, although this does not affect the text. Pages are lightly age-toned to the edges, but otherwise bright and clean with the odd handling mark. Light spotting towards the front and rear of the novel. The occasional small closed tear throughout. Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First issue with incorrect spelling of publisher on spine, cancelled title page. Red cloth with green endpapers, no six page appendix. Bookplate front pastedown, front board is hinged, rear is tender. Front endpaper through page 3 are loose but present. Both endpapers show small loss. Small losses at extremities Please email for photos. Larger books or sets may require additional shipping charges. Books sent via US Postal
Seller: Griffin Books, Stamford, CT, U.S.A.
SHAW, George Bernard. AN UNSOCIAL SOCIALIST.. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co., 1887.
Price: US$418.69 + shipping
Description: First edition, second issue. Variant binding. Publisher's original dark red paper-covered boards with titles in black to the upper board and spine. A very good copy, the binding firm with a slight lean to the spine, a little chipping to the spine ends and minor rubbing to the extremities. The contents with the contemporary engraved bookplate of May Crawley to the front pastedown, minor wear to the front hinge, a little spotting to the first couple of text pages and the occasional mark to page margins are otherwise in good order and clean throughout. Second state of the first edition with title error corrected and appendix at end. Shaw's first published novel, originally serialised in ToDay in 1884. Shaw later explained that he had intended the work, documenting contemporary social conditions and depicting the nascent socialist movement of the 1880s, as the first section of a planned, monumental portrayal of the downfall of capitalism. 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
Shaw, George Bernard. An Unsocial Socialist. Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co. 1887, London, 1887.
Price: US$450.89 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First edition, second issue. Book title on title-page corrected and with appendix. Variant binding. 256, (6) pp. Original publisher's boards with black lettering to front board & spine. Rebacked with original spine laid down. Endpapers reinforced. Spine and board edges rubbed. Internally clean. 8vo.
Seller: Foster Books - Stephen Foster - ABA, ILAB, & PBFA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First edition, mixed state. Bound in original publisher's red cloth, stamped in gilt on spine and covers, brown endpapers. 256pp. Publishers name spelled correctly on spine (Sonnenschein) , previous work shown correctly, no six page appendix. Text tight, clean & intact. Spine slightly darkened, spine ends & corners lightly rubbed and faded area on rear cover. Interior 1/2" of front free endpaper has been glued to the fixed endpaper. Literature. ; Thin 8vo 8" to 9" tall; 256 pages
Seller: Nick Bikoff, IOBA, Fairfield, NJ, U.S.A.
Shaw, George Bernard. An Unsocial Socialist. Swan Sonnenschein, Lowery & Co, London, 1887.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Crown 8vo, 7 3/8 x 5 inches (188 x 126 mm); [4] 256 pp.; original red cloth, stamped in gilt on spine and covers, a little rubbed and soiled, spine slightly faded, hinges weak; dark brown endpapers; foxing on first 2 and last 2 sheets. First edition, first issue with "Author of The Confessions of Byron Cashel's Profession etc. etc." to title and no appendix. Ink inscription of Mrs Walter Crane on half title. [Broad, p. 87; Magill p. 965]. This is Shaw's first published novel. It had been serialized in "To-Day, A Monthly Magazine of Scientific Socialism" between March and December of 1884. This printing was promptly canceled, and supposedly only samples for booksellers and travelers had been sent out with this title-page. Having attended a meeting by political economist Henry George in September 1882, Shaw became fascinated with Socialism, read Marx and became a member of the Fabian Society in September 1884, writing their first manifesto later that year. He believed in a more moderate, non-violent form of socialism and believed that socialist ideals could best be achieved by infiltration of people and ideas into existing political parties. In the early 1880s Shaw also began his literary career by writing music and art criticism and began writing novels, of which An Unsocial Socialist was the first published. But as his career as a playwright started taking off in the latter part of that decade, his political activities also decreased. Shaw later explained that he had intended An Unsocial Socialist as the first section of a monumental depiction of the downfall of capitalism. Gareth Griffith, in a study of Shaw's political thought, sees the novel as an interesting record of conditions, both in society at large and in the nascent socialist movement of the 1880s. [Griffith, Gareth. Socialism and Superior Brains: The Political Thought of George Bernard Shaw. London: Routledge, 1993]. The story centers on Sidney Trefusis, a millionaire socialist, who leaves his bride on their wedding day because he fears his passion for her will get in the way of his plans to overthrow the British government. Sidney vanished "underground"--Disguises himself as a common laborer called "Mengels"--and infiltrates Alton College, a girl's school where well-bred young women are "fitted and fatted to be put on the marriage market". His plan: take over the school and plant the seed of radical socialism into the fertile brains of the future consorts of cabinet ministers and kings. What he doesn't plan on is the presence of one Agatha Wylie, a sixth-form rabble-rouser, who falls hopelessly in love with both Sidney and his politics, and just happens to be his deserted wife's cousin. Love triangles, mistaken identities, Marx, Engels, pistols and the proletariat jostle for position. (via LibraryThing) An unusual ASSOCIATION COPY with ink inscription and address of "Mrs Walter Crane" [ie Mary Crane] on the half title. Walter Crane married Mary Andrews in 1871 and after a sojourn in Rome returned to London in 1873 living first in Wood End and then at Beaumont Lodge, Shepherd's Bush (the address she has written in this book). In 1914 Mary Crane was found dead on a railway track at Kingsnorth in Kent, apparently having committed suicide. Walter Crane was devastated and died just 3 months later. Walter Crane and Shaw were closely associated through the Arts and Crafts movement and the Fabian Society. On p.65 the author writes "Don't lose heart, ladies" said Smilash. "She may be drowned or murdered for all we know. Anyone may send a telegram in a false name. Perhaps it's a plant. Let's hope for your sakes that some little accident - on the railway for instance - may happen yet." Considering the nature of Mary Crane's probable suicide this foretelling is particularly ominous.
Seller: Rob Zanger Rare Books LLC, Middletown, NY, U.S.A.
SHAW, George Bernard. An Unsocial Socialist. Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co, 1887.
Price: US$4800.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: SIGNED/Inscribed by Shaw, affirming this "the first edition in book form." Very rare First Edition Association Copy of Shaw's novel, An Unsocial Socialist. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co., 1887. Octavo, original scarlet cloth. Housed in custom cloth slipcase by Brentano, famed NYC Fifth Ave bookstore with Brentano's original description laid in.Shaw began his literary career by ghosting music criticism and writing unsuccessful novels, of which this is the fifth written and the first published. "During his first nine years in London Shaw calculated that he earned less than 10 pounds by his pen" (Drabble, 892). An Unsocial Socialist was serialized in To-Day ("Monthly Magazine of Scientific Socialism"), with no payment to Shaw, between March and December, 1884. First state, with "Cashel Byron's Profession etc etc" printed on title page. This copy inscribed by Shaw to his first bibliographer, Maurice Holmes. Inscription in full reads: "4 Whitehall Court, London, SWI 23rd November 1928. Dear Maurice Holmes, This is the first edition in book form. It had appeared as a serial in a magazine called Today. Faithfully, G. Bernard Shaw." 256 pp. 8vo., bound in publisher's red cloth, stamped in gilt on spine and covers, dark green endpapers, preserved in a darker red cloth slipcase. This printing was promptly canceled, and supposedly only samples for booksellers and travelers had been sent out with this title-page. Overall a bright, fresh copy, hinges tender but holding. Housed in a custom clamshell box by NYC's Brentano's. Rare signed Shaw with a powerful association. Book #Pv2133. $4800. We specialize in Rare Ayn Rand, history and science.
Seller: PEN ULTIMATE RARE BOOKS, Pine Plains, NY, U.S.A.