FROM THE FOUR WINDS [inscribed by Galsworthy] by [Galsworthy, John] - 1897

1897. [first book, "From the Author"] By John Sinjohn. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1897. Original olive green cloth decorated in gilt.

First Edition of John Galsworthy's first book, a collection of ten tales. Only 500 copies were printed -- on a commission basis, with Galsworthy paying for the printing; in order not to bring shame upon his name, he used a pseudonym derived from the name of a college friend, St. John Hornby. Galsworthy was subsequently ashamed of this initial work: he asked friends to whom he had sent copies to burn them, he never permitted it to be reprinted, and he ultimately asked the publisher to destroy the unsold stock (in 1920! -- giving an indication of how poorly the 500 copies had been selling). This is a nearly fine copy, with very little sign of age or wear. Marrot p. 3. Housed in a morocco-backed clamshell case. The front flyleaf of this copy is inscribed by Galsworthy "From the Author," in his distinctive hand; since the book was pseudonymous and he was not at all proud of it -- and due to the natural humility common to many writers with their first efforts -- this was his way of inscribing his earliest books.