About this Item
First printing of the true first edition, published in 1953. Illustrated throughout with 56 monochrome photographic plates, including a full-page frontispiece showing Norwich Cathedral: the West Front, plus some line drawings within the text, and with the attractive wraparound dustwrapper illustration designed by Brian Cook.
***Very good in blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles and rules to the spine. The gilt is still nice and bright and the boards are clean and unfaded - just showing some light marks and rubbing commensurate with age and handling. Some light browning to the edges in places. Head and tail of spine slightly creased, but no serious bumps or creasing. Corners sharp. Top edge of the page block stained blue to match the boards by the publisher - now slightly faded. Fore-edge of page block lightly foxed. There is no reading lean to the binding, and the spine is tight, with no loose pages. Internally also very good with no previous ownership inscriptions. No offsetting or foxing to the endpapers, and very little internal foxing - interior pages clean. No creases or tears. Nice quality paper used.
***In a very good colour illustrated dustwrapper, with the wraparound illustration by Brian Cook. The dustwrapper has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 15s. net at the top corner of the front flap. The dustwrapper is virtually complete, with just some very slight loss at the top of the spine - not affecting the lettering. Some light edge-wear and rubbing to the edges. No fading or browning to the spine. There is a closed tear at the top of the front panel along the spine, and some associated creasing. No other significant tears, chips or creasing. ***220mm x 146mm. 160 pages including a three-page Index at the back of the book. ***Contents: Preface, Acknowledgment, List of Illustrations, Introduction, Chapter I. Norwich, City of Gardens, II. The Norwich Painters, III. Some Old Norwich Houses, IV. Broadland Scene, V. To the Waters of Waveney, VI. Yarmouth and the North Broads, VII. The Enchanting waters of the Ant, VIII. Birds, Beasts and Fishes of the Broads, Index.
***'"In this city," writes Mr Wentworth Day of Norwich, "there is a theatre unique in England, a School of Painters that is utterly English of the English, a museum of art and ornithology without a rival out of London. There is a cathedral of breathtaking beauty. There is a castle dominating it all which bore the haunting name of Blanchetower, and, at its feet, are streets and alleys and courts of medieval peace, cloisters of the centuries. And, beyond the bounds of the city, lie the flat-green miles, the shining waters, the marching lines of witch-haired willows and the slow, broad rivers which make the beauty and mystery that is Broadland."' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper).
***'Batsford was founded in 1843 by Bradley Thomas Batsford. Harry Batsford, nephew of the founder, was the chairman but also an author for the company writing at least 11 books on English architecture and countryside (some reprinted into the 21st century). Many were co-authored by Charles Fry, Chief Editor and a director of the company. A prominent chairman of the firm from 1952 until 1974 was Brian Batsford, known as Brian Cook, who joined in 1928, and designed many of its dust-jackets. Notable series in past years have included The Face of Britain series, The British Heritage Series, and The English Life Series.' (Wiki)
***A first printing of the true first edition. One of the wonderfully produced Batsford books, with the beautiful Brian Cook designed dustwrapper. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.
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