Books

Northampton: Gehenna Press, 1956. First, Limited Edition. Folio (33cm). Original morocco-backed paper-covered boards in publisher's slipcase; unpaged [28pp]. No. 43 of 365 hand-numbered copies in the regular edition (there were also 35 copies with a signed proof). Frontispiece is a portrait of Wilfred Owen, drawn by Shahn and printed from a block by Leonard Baskin; text includes 15 lithographs after original illustrations by Shahn. Mild wear and soil to slipcase; touch of foxing to endpapers and flyleaves; Near Fine. Superbly produced collection of Owen's anti-war poems, accompanied by Shahn's graphic depictions of the brutality of war. The colophon states that only the first thirty-five "deluxe" copies were bound in half-leather; in fact the entire edition appears to have been bound thus; but only the "deluxe" copies include the signed proof of the Owen portrait, not present here.

The War Poems is a collection of war poems written by Wilfred Owen during World War I, including his famous pieces such as 'Dulce et Decorum Est' and 'Anthem for Doomed Youth.' The impact of Owen's poetry is such that it has shaped the public's perception of war and has been used in educational settings to convey the brutal reality of conflict.

To determine if a copy of 'The War Poems' is a first edition, one should look for the original publisher's name (Chatto & Windus), the publication date (1920), and the absence of later edition statements or print numbers. Original dust jackets may also indicate first edition status.