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Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (First American Edition), 1936 📜🏛️📚

Name: Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (First American Edition), 1936 📜🏛️📚
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 450.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$450.00

Sale Sold out

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This first American edition of Daphne du Maurier's novel Jamaica Inn was published in 1936. The book is a foundational work of 20th-century gothic literature that established the author's reputation in the genre.

The book is an example of a pivotal period in American and British publishing and represents a key moment in the history of the gothic genre.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Jamaica Inn is a work of gothic suspense set in early 19th-century Cornwall. The story follows Mary Yellan, who moves to the remote Jamaica Inn after the death of her mother. The narrative explores themes of isolation and suspense within a desolate setting on the Cornish coast.

The physical volume, with its original decorative cloth and typeset pages, is an example of the publishing standards of the era. The book’s narrative provides insight into the popular fiction of the time and its place in the literary landscape.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) was an English novelist and playwright. She is recognized for her command of gothic fiction, characterized by a sense of suspense and atmosphere. Her work is a study of human behavior under pressure. She was not a trained writer; however, her prose is celebrated for its directness and authentic voice.

Du Maurier's body of work, including Jamaica Inn, has had a lasting impact on the gothic and suspense genres. Her novels, including Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel, have been adapted for both stage and screen. This volume is a product of her career and her established influence on modern literature.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1936, this book is a physical artifact of the interwar period in Europe and America. This was a time of political and social instability, with rising international tensions and economic uncertainty. The book's publication reflects a public interest in stories that provided an escape from the complexities of the real world.

The book is a record of late 1930s popular thought and reflects the cultural values of its time. The volume serves as a clear record of the transitional period in Western culture just prior to the outbreak of World War II.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of classic 20th-century literature, a scholar of the gothic genre, or a private collector of fine bindings. It is an acquisition for an individual who values a book's dual status as a key historical document and a physical artifact of its time.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a first American edition from 1936, this book is a scarce item. First editions from a major author are sought after by collectors. Published to critical acclaim, its scarcity in a well-preserved state makes it a notable item for a collector.

The price reflects the book's rarity, its literary standing, and its condition for an item that is 89 years old.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ This volume is a survivor from the late 1930s, showing authentic wear consistent with its age.

The original cloth hardcover is in a solid state, with a tight and sound binding.
The covers show some expected rubbing and scuffing, particularly along the edges and on the spine.
The pages have some expected toning and light discoloration throughout, a natural process for paper.
The pages are free from any major stains, and the interior text block is clean.
The book is free of any detached or loose pages or any owner's marks.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

The novel was adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1939, just three years after its publication.
The novel's setting is based on a real inn located in Cornwall, England.
Du Maurier's grandfather, a celebrated illustrator and novelist, was a contemporary of Charles Dickens.
The book's front cover and spine design are a direct product of the aesthetic trends of the 1930s.