Lot 595 email save

Buckland Wright. 22 A.Ls.s. to Christopher Sandfor

Sign In to see what this sold for

51pp., letters numbered in pencil 1-21 (one unnumbered), letter dated 31st May 1938 (numbered '10') appears to lack its second leaf (therefore unsigned), one letter with amusing pen and ink drawing, another with diagrams of binding suggestions for the plates, a few with Sandford's pencil annotations, Paris, 23rd February 1937 - 2nd January 1939; with a set of the unbound sheets of the book, number 34 of 70 copies, printed in lilac and black, copper-engraved title-vignette and 7 plates, correction in manuscript to note at foot of Epitaph, unbound, uncut and unopened, [Reid A30], 4to, Paris, privately printed, [1939]; and the 8 original copper plates, c.130 x 100 or 130 x 170mm.

***A fascinating record of Buckland Wright's working methods for the privately printed book (?by Christopher Sandford) commissioned by an anonymous "doctor". The letters include discussion about payment, how many plates, which subjects, binding etc. as well as many references to other books he was working on for the Golden Cockerel Press, especially Mademoiselle de Maupin, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and Pervigilium Veneris. There is much discussion about a plate for 'The Galley Slaves'. Unfortunately we do not have Sandford's comments on the design sent over by the artist but we can guess his response from Buckland Wright's next letter: "...I felt it would be a good thing to be out and out blatant about it and then see what your reactions were, and if they were the same as mine, suppress it all...The girls by themselves are playful and charming, add this and it becomes pornographic...The one thing that amuses me is that at last I've got you shocked. I didn't know I could do it." 17th July 1938 "Omar still remains perfect. You really are to be congratulated on this book. Up till now I've - (to be really brutally frank) - never felt that your books competed with mine and I felt perfectly certain that both standing on their own merits mine would knock yours sideways - (nothing like conceit is there?) But this time it's different, I feel Omar would win, and being of a generous nature I give you full marks for it!!! unreservedly!...". 5th November 1938 .

View Bloomsbury Auctions next auction.

Similar lots up for auction