Time was away. A notebook in Corsica.

FIRST EDITION, frontispiece, title-page design and drawings throughout by John Minton (many full-page and some colour-printed), title-page printed in green and black, pp. 189, royal 8vo, original canary yellow cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt against a green ground with decorations in gilt at either end, the lettering a little rubbed, corners at head gently knocked, very faint mark to upper board, very faint tape shadows to free endpapers, the dustjacket with an overall design by John Minton, a little chipped at corners and ends of backstrip panel, the latter a little tatty at foot with some external tape repair to tears, the same at head of upper joint-fold, very good. Inscribed by John Minton on the flyleaf, in his distinctive hand: 'Kenneth - from Johnny, Nov. 1948'. The recipient was Kenneth Lawrence, with whom Minton had been at Reading School in the 1930s - hence, perhaps, the use of a familiar form of his name, not generally used in his adult life. The pair remained close, with Lawrence receiving numerous letters and artworks from Minton before the latter's early death in 1957. Ross's travel narrative and poetry combine with Minton's wonderful illustrations to achieve an elegant and highly distinctive work, one of the most admired works of illustration in its era; presentation copies are uncommon.…