To the Memory of Edward Thomas.
(Flansham, Bognor: Pear Tree Press, 1937). Quarto. 32, (ii)pp. One of 250 copies. Illustrated with a colored wood-engraved frontispiece portrait of Edward Thomas by Robin Guthrie, and with several engravings, colored vignettes, and two intaglio plates by James Guthrie. One of these intaglio plates reproduces an advertisement for Thomas's first book of poetry, which was published by Pear Tree under the pseudonym Edward Eastaway. Guthrie's tribute to Thomas contains a reminiscence that closes with a moving poem titled "Instead of His Voice," the final lines of which evoke Guthrie's sense of loss: "I know as my heart lies awake, / And listens and longs, it hears / The silence, as though for his sake, / There were songs in the place of tears." Laid in is an ALS from James Guthrie to Mr. Weiss, dated April 16, 1935. In the letter, Guthrie acknowledges receipt of payment for The Prime of Printing, and reflects upon the illustrations he created for the Pear Tree Press edition of Poe's poems, and which he describes as "a small hand press edition of no special merit." Guthrie seems to suggest that these illustrations could serve as the basis for another project "were out time not a time of uncertainty." He closes with an observation on the state of the book arts in England: "(b)ooks on this side are in a poor way, one hardly knows why. I should like to see more spirit and dash than there is -- to sit & mourn will not get us anyplace." Light bumps to corners and spine, exterior generally rubbed, else near fine in deep red cloth with gilt cover design, lacking dust wrapper. Item #30165
Price: $750.00