Book Description
[Norfolk]: New Directions, [1957].. Quarto. Gilt parchment over boards, t.e.g. As new in glassine jacket and slipcase. First edition, illustrated with drawings by Ben Shahn. One of only 150 numbered copies printed on Arches, and signed by the author and artist. An additional print of one of Shahn's drawings, signed by him, is laid in front, as issued.
Not sure what some of these terms mean? Look it up in our glossary.
boards : Common term for the covers of a hardbound book.
jacket : Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps around the binding of a book
gilt : The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book. The edges of the text block, or an inlay in the front cover of the boards, for example.
quarto : A term used generally to describe the approximate size of a book, a book that is about 10" to 12" tall and roughly squarish in shape. The term is based on the size of paper traditionally used by book printers which has been folded and cut into 16 pages.
laid in : something which is included with, but not attached to the book, such as a sheet of paper.
As New : "the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc., and the dust jacket (if it was issued with one) must be perfect without any tears." Condition definition from AB Bookman's Weekly.