Wheels 1919, Fourth Cycle

1919, the first publication of Wilfred Owen's poems in book form

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition, first printing. Hardback, quarter cloth with paper title label, front cover design by William Roberts. 19 × 14cm, 103pp.

The fourth and rarest issue (cycle) of Edith Sitwell's Wheels series as it contains the first publication in book of Wilfred Owen's poems. Previous to this edition, he had had three poems published in The Nation, and two in The Hydra (the magazine produced by the patients of Craiglockhart Military Hospital; where Owen also acted as editor). Wilfred Owen was killed in the Great War on 4th November 1918, and this issue is dedicated to his memory. The seven Owen poems included are: The Show; Strange Meeting; A Terre; The Sentry; Disabled; The Dead Beat; and The Chances.

The other poets featured in this issue were Osbert Sitwell, Aldous Huxley, Sacheverell Sitwell, Arnold James, Francesco Quevedo (translated Alvaro Guevara), Iris Tree, Sherard Vines, and Edith Sitwell. The book ends with press notices and bibligraphies.

Condition

This copy is in good condition for age. There is some bumping to the boards' edges and corners, and light fading to the black cloth spine. The title label has some minor chipping. The inner binding is secure, the pages clean if a little age-toned and the book is free from inscription, barring a bookseller's ticket to the front pastedown. Overall, a good solid copy of this rare title in Wilfred Owen's short bibliography.