Edward James; Rex Whistler (illustrated): 'The Next Volume. ...

Hammer

£180

Edward James; Rex Whistler (illustrated): 'The Next Volume. With Decorations by Rex Whistler', London, The James Press, 1932 [1933], limited edition, number 34 of 525 copies, vii,[1],83,[3]pp, plates and illustrations by Rex Whistler throughout, 4to (28 x 19cm), fine contemporary quarter green morocco special binding, spine gilt lettered, marble patterned cloth, top edge gilt, others uncut. With the neat and very attractive booklabel of Pamela Lister in the Cambridge calligraphic style of Reynolds Stone / Will Carter / David Kindersley. Pamela and Raymond Lister were knowledgeable and accomplished Cambridge book collectors and bibliophiles, with a significant rare book collection including fine bindings and illustrated/press books. Raymond Lister (1919-2001) was an important scholar of William Blake and his followers; a former President of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters; and owner of a small private press on which he printed some of his own illustrated books. Keenly interested in ballet – Edward James’ first wife was the ballerina Tilley Losch – Lister also owned a small private theatre. Although dated 1932 a printed note at the foot of the colophon states, "Publication of this book was withheld until January 1933 owing to the serious illness of the author's wife". James then suppressed the publication as he was unhappy with the poem on Shelley and it is thought that fewer than 100 copies were bound. The sheets were reissued later as a second edition with a new version of the poem.