If you require tickets please get in touch.

London Impressions: Etchings and Pictures in Photogravure

HYDE, William

First edition; folio; original vellum boards, titled in gilt on upper cover and spine, top edge gilt. Photogravure plates and three etchings. Jerrold Northrop Moore in his chapter on Hyde in The Green Fuse, states that his "art expanded the pastoral vision planted by Palmer - through dark and savage weathers, and even into the city. His achievement was to show these as the paradoxes of pastoral vision, not its destroyers. Thus Hyde's images expanded and deepened the prospects of English pastoral - as if preparing its vision to face half a century of wars. It was Hyde, among pastoral visionaries, who caught the wind of that future." Very good, boards dust marked. Bookplate of Robin de Beaumont to front pastedown.

A Russian Journal

STEINBECK, John

First edition; 8vo; original cloth-backed boards, top edge stained blue and original dust jacket. Illustrated by Robert Capa.Signed presentation inscription from the author "Vu du buiche dun pi quah dus an plu k. / John Steinbeck." Inscribed to the author's niece Joan (also known as Toni) and her husband, David Heyler. The inscription is written in phonetic or possibly pidgin French, mimicking other foreign language inscriptions from Steinbeck to the Heylers. Steinbeck my be referencing signing this book for the newly wedded couple two years after its publication: "D'un pourquois deux ans plus que".Steinbeck and Capa recorded the grim realities of factory workers, government clerks, and peasants, as they emerged from the rubble of World War II. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket, very minor nicks to edges and spine ends a little creased.

The Black Country

WADSWORTH, Edward

Signed limited edition; small folio; original cloth-backed boards. Initial devices and vignette by Wadsworth and 20 black and white plates. Wadsworth's own copy of the signed limited edition, which was 'specially seen through the press by the artist' and contains a 'unique woodcut now destroyed'; this is number 41 of 50 copies. Edward Wadsworth (1889–1949) was born in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, the son of a prosperous mill owner. He studied engineering before taking up a place at the Slade. For a time he was associated with the Vorticists,and sought to reflect the mechanical and industrial advances of the early 20th century. Wadsworth would have seen the landscape of the Black Country from the train as he travelled from London to Liverpool, during the Great War, where he was engaged in painting dazzle camouflage on ships. The man-made landscape created by the slag heaps from coal and steel production, dotted with winding wheels, smoking furnaces and freight trains, held a particular beauty for the artist, combining his background with his artistic beliefs. Loosely inserted is a coloured prospectus for the limited edition of the book. Very good, small tears at spine ends, corners slightly bumped.

Autograph Letter Signed to Henry Williamson

LAWRENCE, T.E.

Autograph Letter Signed to Henry Williamson; 1pp; written in ink, signed TES, from 13 Birmingham St, Southampton and dated 21.xii.33. Apologising for a long delay in replying to a letter from April. He writes he will be leaving the R.A.F - "Fourteen more months and my R.A.F. status ceases: alas. It is outworn already but will nevertheless be regretted" He writes of his re-reading of Williamson's Tarka the Otter which was the reason for their first acquaintance after Lawrence wrote to him about it from India - "Lately I have re-read Tarka - and find the old mastery that shocked and startled me in India. It is a fine book. You could make Bradshaw interesting, if you edited it". He adds some concern for his friend "I hope my feeling that you are unhappy is not true..." He writes about fame...."yet another 'life' of me is to appear next year. Only these lives by third parties are external things. They do not break the skin..."With the original envelope in Lawrence's hand. T.E. Lawrence correspondence with Henry Williamson, Russell Hill Press, 2000; Genius of Friendship, 'T.E. Lawrence' by Henry Williamson p.56. After T.E. Lawrence wrote to Henry Williamson from India in January 1928 about his book Tarka the Otter the two men began a correspondence and friendship which lasted until Lawrence's death. Their letters were frank, honest and very illuminating and most of their friendship was conducted through their correspondence (they only met twice and very briefly). Fine in original hand written envelope.

The Black Country

WADSWORTH, Edward

First edition; small folio; original cloth-backed boards. Initial devices and vignette by Wadsworth and 20 black and white plates. Wadsworth's working proof copy, with his annotations in pencil. Twelve of the proofs have the text supplied in pencil by the artist, the remaining eight are annotated in pencil 'OK'. Edward Wadsworth (1889–1949) was born in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, the son of a prosperous mill owner. He studied engineering before taking up a place at the Slade. For a time he was associated with the Vorticists, and sought to reflect the mechanical and industrial advances of the early 20th century. Wadsworth would have seen the landscape of the Black Country from the train as he travelled from London to Liverpool, during the Great War, where he was engaged in painting dazzle camouflage on ships. The man-made landscape created by the slag heaps from coal and steel production, dotted with winding wheels, smoking furnaces and freight trains, held a particular beauty for the artist, combining his background with his artistic beliefs. Very good a little wear and marks to boards and a little spotting to one or two pages.