I had never heard that there was a dustcover for this book!
The edition I have seen, which was a first edition as far as I remember, was smaller and didn’t have a dustcover, it was in fact bound in leather so the former owner probably toook it to the binders.
There’s some distortion in the photo but I would say that it is an original, 1st edition.
Bound in leather doesn’t sound original as the paper in the edition is not ‘fine’.
every time a new publisher runs a book for the first time it’s a “first edition”…this may be a “first edition” without being the “First Edition”…
Run that by us again?
the classification of “first edition” goes by the publisher, not by the book. so if a book is picked up by a different publisher twenty years later, the first edition by the second publisher is still a “first edition”
it doesn’t have to actually be the first run by the first publisher to be called a “first edition,” just the first run by that particular publisher.
This does seem to be the real first edition, but there are several copies on the major book-collectors’ sites, so it is not a great rarity.
Most are now cheaper than this auction.
Mukade
I have this book. It’s hardbound but a small note inside says: “This series, in superior leather bindings, may be had on application to the publishers.” It’s part of “The Music Series” (3/6 net per volume) ? It’s 237 pages including the index. His final paragraph in the book, written and published in 1911, says: And who knows but that in the near future the Uilleann pipes may again become fashionable. It would be a real pity that such a fine old instrument should altogether disappear. Doubtless an appeal to national pride in the Irish-speaking, self-governing Ireland will revive the vogue of the pipes, but at present the outlook is not hopeful." He then gives a bit of an endorsement in a footnote that says “Mr. R. M. O,Mealy, of Bel’ast (sp) manufatures both Uilleann and warpipes. He is also an admirable performer on both instruments.”