The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton N. Wilder (1928 Hardcover)


  • Author: Thornton Niven Wilder (1897–1975)
  • Illustrator(s): Amy Drevenstedt (1886-?)
  • Publisher: Albert & Charles Boni, Inc., New York, NY U.S.A. 1928


The story of several interrelated people who die in the collapse of an Inca rope bridge in Peru, and the events that lead up to their being on that bridge. A friar who has witnessed the accident then goes about inquiring into the lives of the victims, seeking some sort of answer to the question of why each had to die.


Thornton Niven Wilder (1897–1975) won the 1927 Pulitzer Prize (the 1st of his 3 awards) for this, his second novel. The 1st edition of this novel was strikingly illustrated in the Art Deco style B&W by Amy Drevenstedt (1886-?).


Hardcover has pale slate cloth boards with navy lettering & designs embossed into front & spine, but no DJ. Spine is sunburnt with tear at head. Book has square corners w/o wear. Interior is complete with binding broken p30, occasional smudges, but has no markings indicating ownership or study. This copy has sat on shelf with spine exposed to sunlight for most of it's existence.


  • Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall, 235 pp.
  • Condition: Good Minus Hardcover without Dust Jacket


Copyright 1927. This copy printed by copyright holder in 1928. The printing history has the initial printing in November, 1927, 6 printings in December, 2 more in January with 2 more in February! This copy is from 11th printing in February, 1928 thus printed within the 1st 3 months of release. This is what a blockbuster's print-run series looks like. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR.


Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:


Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new”.  Booksellers needed some word to describe this...


Very Good – How you or I might take care of a book, closer to “as new” than standard.


Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” The most likely condition

for books of this age, shows the book has been read or previously owned.


Acceptable – How a child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure

someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or

a book that has been damaged.)


Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have

missing pages (you should ask).


Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.


1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector

might desire this copy.



Thanks for looking!