Civilisation. A Personal View.

FIRST EDITION, 286 plates (of which 48 colour-printed), a couple of spots to prelims, pp. xviii, 359, 4to, original red cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt against a brown ground and slightly nicked at head, clipped reviews laid in, dustjacket a little rubbed at extremities, very good. Inscribed by the author on the title-page: 'Barbara, with love from Kenneth Clark'. The recipient, her contemporary ownership inscription to the flyleaf, was the artist Barbara Bagenal (née Hiles), an artist associated with the Bloomsbury Group, who had been a friend of Carrington at the Slade. Taped to the front pastedown is a later typed letter from Clark to Bagenal referring to photographs taken 'in the Sutherlans'[sic] villa near Mentone', which have given him 'much nostalgic pleasure'. He expresses his regret at her having to move from Rye - reflecting that 'growing old is no joke'. An excellent association copy of a book that is uncommon inscribed.