[BERNERS (GERALD, LORD)] The Girls of Radcliff Hall, by 'Adela Quebec', FIRST EDITION, WITH A LETTER OF PRESENTATION FROM THE AUTHOR LOOSELY INSERTED, half-title, light spotting on title, one-page autograph letter signed ('Berners') to 'My dear Sadleir' [see footnote] loosely inserted, publisher's printed wrappers, single small stain on the upper cover, 8vo, Printed for the Author for Private Circulation Only, [c.1935]; together with a copy the reprint edition edited by John Byrne (2) Footnotes: VERY RARE first edition of Lord Berner's satire of the lesbian-leaning writings of Radclyffe Hall and girls school stories, in 'a Jolly tale of appropriately Sapphic passions' (John Byrne, introduction to the reprint edition, 2000). It is thought that fewer than 100 copies were printed. This copy was presented by Berners to the bibliophile Michael Sadleir, stating in his accompanying letter that 'It is a 'roman à clef' but it may amuse even if the characters are not known'. For those 'in the know' the personnel would have been clearly recognisable, and included Berners himself, Cecil Beaton, Oliver Messel, Peter Watson, Robert Percy-Heber, Pavel Tchelitchew, and others. Provenance: Michael Sadleir (1888-1857), gifted by the author; Anthony Newnham (1926-1992); John Byrne, who mentions this copy as being one of only four copies he had seen 'in over thirty years of looking [the others belonging to Quentin Bell, Cyril Connolly, and Carl Van Vechten] in his introduction to the reprint edition published by The Cygnet Press, 2000 (a copy of which is included in the lot). This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing