An Beal Bocht. Nó An Milleanach Droch-Sgeal ar an Droch-Shaoghal. Dublin: An Press Naisiunta, 1942. Second Edition. Pp, 111. Publisher’s pictorial card covers & pictorial endpapers by Seán O’Sullivan. Worn along spine & edges, spotting to covers, fore-edges & preliminary leaves; contents in good condition.

The first edition was published in 1941 (only 300 copies of this edition were initially printed). When the book was an unexpected hit, the publishers quickly had the remaining printed sheets bound up in a similar cover with the addition of the printers name on the rear blank. This second edition followed in 1942.

‘An Beal Bocht’ is the only novel of Flann O’Brien’s written in Irish using the pen name Myles na gCopaleen. The novel was translated into English and published in 1973 as ‘The Poor Mouth’ and has appeared in many other languages since.