This listing is a 1931 Original Hardback in very good condition. It is one of four higher-value books I am placing on Trade Me.

Key characteristics of the 1931 edition revolve around it being a very large book and the hinges tend to give way. This is not the case with this listing. Related to the weight of the book is the fact that it is difficult to find a 1931 with a decent spine because the page-block is a little too heavy for the covers and problems occur. Hence, all the 1931 copies I have seen have some creasing and folding where spine meets front and rear board.

This copy has survived 84 years very well. The boards are clean and the corners are not bent under as is common for this era. There are a couple of creases on the front board but not affecting the structure of the copy. There is no spotting, foxing or discernible browning. There is a small amount of speckling on the bottom of the page-block lateral profile. Otherwise the pages and the photographic plate are in excellent condition - complete, original and unmarked. Indeed, the "Five Cricketers of the Year", featuring Bradman and Grimmett, is one of the nicest I have seen from the 1920s and 1930s.

The inside cover paste-downs have retained their “yellow” very faithfully and are in quite superb state. Gilt to front and spine does not come much better.

A 1931 original hardback in the condition of this listing can fetch up to $1,100. I do not have that expectation on this occasion, but I am not in a hurry to sell either.

I am very happy to take questions from interested parties on the quality of this book.

Reason for selling – I have two 1931 original hardbacks.