Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell – 1949 | Dystopian Novel, First American Edition

The classic dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a defining work of twentieth-century literature. Orwell’s portrayal of a totalitarian society under the surveillance and control of “Big Brother” introduced chilling concepts such as thoughtcrime and doublethink, where the slightest indication of original thought or dissention against political authority was met with strict punishment. It is within this dreary and paranoid setting that Orwell’s protagonist, Winston, must find out what he is willing to risk for personal freedom and joy, or if the price of independent thought will prove to be too costly. The novel was immediately recognized for its significance amidst Cold War anxieties, though the themes of authoritarianism and manipulated truth are just as relevant today as they were in 1949.

This first edition meets edition points below.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Nineteen Eighty-Four
• Author: George Orwell
• Publisher: New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company
• Edition: First American Book Club edition, 1949
  • Stated First American edition
  • Dot on back board
• Binding: Tan cloth
  • Facsimile red dust jacket
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Size: ~ 8.25in x 5.75in (21cm x 14.5cm)
• Collation: [4], 314
• Contents Include:
  • Complete text of Orwell’s dystopian novel
• Provenance: Bookplate “From the Library of Boyd Morrison Guttery,” a US Army colonel who served in Japan during WWII and Korea.

Condition:

Good. The binding remains tight and secure with moderate edgewear, bumped corners, and spine discoloration. Endpapers mildly foxed. Red and black titling is clear and without rubbing. Hinges and text block are intact and secure. Internally clean, with no damage noted, with very mild age-toning at the page edges. The professionally produced facsimile red dust jacket is in Excellent condition.

Why Collect This?

• First American edition of Orwell’s classic dystopian novel
• Major cultural and political influence since the mid-20th century

Item Number: #31196