- 51
Durrell, Lawrence
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description
- Durrell, Lawrence
- Quaint Fragment. [London:] The Cecil Press, 1931
- PAPER
8vo (210 x 135mm.), first edition of the author's scarce first book, printed in red and black, photographic portrait of the author, original red cloth with gold paper spine, collector's folding morocco-backed box with spine in compartments, some minor spotting, extremities of spine slightly chipped
Literature
Thomas and Brigham A1
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The extremely rare first book by Lawrence Durrell, comprising a collection of poems "written between the ages of sixteen and nineteen". A pencil note on the front free endpaper identifies this as the first book printed by Cecil Jeffries.
Thomas and Brigham in their Lawrence Durrell - An Illustrated Checklist (1983) provide the author's statement that "Cecil Jeffries bought a hand press and asked me to give him something to practise with; poems were easier than prose so I gave him an old notebook with roughs. Title was his. We took two pulls I think before the type was dispersed. One copy bound". Thomas and Brigham note "this book is extremely rare, but Durrell's statement that only one copy was bound is an exaggeration. Three of four have passed through the antiquarian book market in the last few years, and one copy, left behind in Corfu, was destroyed." Only three copies are recorded as sold at auction in the last thirty years.