Ode to a Highflying Bird by Charlie Watts (2 results)

Condition: Very Good. First edition, pocket 8vo., pp.(32), glazed cream hardcover lettered in black, colour-illustrated throughout; small ownership inscription to front free endpaper, 'Seven Shillings' label bound in, rubbing and light surface soil to pale boards, small tear to paper covering at foot of upper joint, lower corner of rear board bruised, overall a very good copy of this scarce curio.

Scarce first edition, first impression, of the Rolling Stones drummer's lightly humorous but entirely sincere tribute, in the style of a children's book, to his great hero Charlie Parker, "who made me what I am". Published on the tenth anniversary of Bird's death, it was originally conceived as a class project while Watts was a design student. With typical humility he describes the book as "compiled by one charlie [sic] to a late and great Charlie". Small octavo. Illustrations in colour throughout by the author. Original white boards, covers lettered in black, portrait of the author to rear cover, price label of "Seven Shillings" tipped to front free endpaper as issued. Small book label of Robin de Beaumont (1926-2023), former President of The Private Libraries Association and expert in Victorian decorative bindings, to front pastedown. Spine faintly toned, gentle creasing to joints: a near-fine copy.