John Betjeman's Collected Poems. Compiled and with an Introduction by The Earl of Birkenhead
London, John Murray, 1958 [first edition].
Octavo, xxviii, 279 pages.
Full dark green calf (a contemporary deluxe binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe); spine decorated in gilt in compartments with red morocco lettering pieces; sides bordered in gilt; top edge gilt; marbled endpapers; leather rubbed at the extremities; inner surfaces of the endpapers and adjacent leaves a little foxed; trifling surface blemish to the front flyleaf where a small bookplate (or similar) has been removed; overall, an excellent copy.
Loosely inserted is a personalised Christmas card inscribed and signed by the author: 'Hooray Hooray for | Middlesex, London's | County, London's Elysium, | Keats's inspiration & to | Hell with the L.C.C. & up | with Mill Hill | Happy Christmas | [from] John Betjeman'. The card is a bifolium of laid paper, outer surfaces blank, the centrefold featuring an illustration of the Nativity with a quotation from Luke 2:16 on the left, and the manuscript insertions over Betjeman's printed address of The Mead, Wantage, Berkshire on the right (card folded horizontally for posting; a little creased, foxed and tanned, but overall in very good condition). [2 items].
Item #141463
Price (AUD):
$1,100.00