" It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. "
— Henry Ward Beecher

London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1955. [Biography] INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[8]; 214; [2] blank. Publisher's green cloth, gilt titles to spine, dust-jacket designed by Beaton with printed price of 16s net. Photographic frontispiece and occasional in-text illustrations. Inscribed by the author to the flyleaf: "To dearest Enid | with love | and Christmas | Blessings 1955 | from | Cecil". Elegant bookplate of Barbara Rouse to pastedown. Some offset toning to endpapers, a couple of corners creased from having been folded over, light toning to edges. Wrapper shows very well with just some light chipping to the top of the toned spine panel, some small closed tears. Near fine. Cecil Beaton's account of his lecture tour of American Ladies' Clubs. Item #55203
Price: £895.00