ID: 1863
The Mint
LAWRENCE, T.E.

Category: First Edition

Place/Publisher/Date:
New York, Garden City, 1936.

Description: Limited edition; large 8vo; original half vellum over plain blue boards, top edge gilt, others uncut, black morocco gilt-lettered spine label. Number UK17 of 50 copies. This copy is inscribed "The property of A.W.Lawrence" on front free endpaper and again on verso of the title page with "c/o Tamplin & Co., Solicitors, 52, Bishopsgate, London, E.C." below. Arnold Walter Lawrence was the youngest brother of T.E.Lawrence and his literary executor. "One of Lawrence's avowed purposes in joining the RAF was to write of the ranks from the inside. He began immediately making notes when he enlisted in 1922. With his dismissal in January 1923, because of unfavourable publicity, the project was set aside, not to be taken up again until he was posted to India in 1927. In March 1928 he sent a clean copy of the revised text to Edward Garnett [who] had copies typed which were circulated to a small circle, among them Air Marshal Trenchard. Trenchard's concerned response led Lawrence to guarantee that it would not be published at least until 1950." (O'Brien) The manuscript eventually found its way to America in 1936 and "in order to control publication, it was found necessary to have a copyright edition published" - only 50 copies, of which only 10 were for sale. Fine condition, the only fault being a tiny nick to the spine [O'Brien A172].

Price £12,000.00