John Hampson — The Sight of Blood

Bloomsbury , Ulysses Bookshop, 1931 . First edition. Cloth. A signed copy of this vanishingly scarce short story, published due to interest shown by Leonard and Virginia Woolf, housed in the original slipcase. The first edition in book form. Originally published in Desmond MacCarthy's 'Life and Letters&apos. Bound in the publisher's quarter cloth with the original slipcase. Very scarce work. Inscribed by the author to well-known collector, Roland Knaster, writing 'Inscribed to Roland Knaster with the regards of John Hampson' with an additional note from the author reading 'This story, when it appeared in the April issue of Life & Letters 1931, contained a printers error: word being printed instead of world.&apos. Written by English novelist, John Hampson, who was best known for his 1931 novel 'Saturday Night at the Greyhound&apos. 'The Sight of Blood' is a short story of just four pages long, surrounding the outing of a young boy to get a haircut. During this trim, he witnesses a man describing the very graphic and painful death of his wife; a description which causes the young boy to faint. The story was sent by the author to Leonard and Virginia Woolf, and subsequently published due to their interest in it. Bound in the publisher's quarter cloth with the original slipcase. Externally, excellent with minor shelf wear and slight fading to the spine. Inscription to front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages very bright with the occasional light spot. Slipcase is also excellent, with light shelf wear. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed .