About this Item
First printing of the first edition, published in February 1946 - written by George Bramwell Evens' wife Eunice Evens, and illustrated with 32 sepia-tone plates throughout the book. ***Very good in light-green cloth-covered boards with black titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked, having been protected by the dustwrapper, with just some very slight fading at the top and tail of the spine. Edges of boards uncreased. No bumps. Corners sharp. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. No foxing to the page block edges, but the top edge is slightly darkened. Internally also very good, with no inscriptions. The pages are clean, with just a little sporadic foxing. The paper stock is quite thin, as the book was printed to post-war economy standards, but there are no creases or tears. ***In a very good illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 10/6 net. The dustwrapper is virtually complete, with just a small area of loss at the top of the spine. Slight rubbing and creasing at the extremities commensurate with age and handling. No fading. Dustwrapper bright. ***260 pages. 223mm x 145mm. ***'Here is the story of one of the most gifted and beloved of B.B.C. Broadcasters. The book tells of Romany's boyhood, his early years as a Methodist Minister, and his adventures as an observer of wild life; as a lecturer, an author and a successful broadcaster. His memory is enshrined in the hearts of many thousands of listeners. The childhood-echoing rambles of Romany, Muriel and Doris, accompanied by the famous spaniel Raq, although never to be heard again, will never be forgotten.' (Quote taken from the back panel of the dustwrapper) ***'The Rev. George Bramwell Evens (15 Feb 1884 - 20 Nov 1943) was, under the pseudonym "Romany" (and sometimes "The Tramp"), a British radio broadcaster and writer on countryside and natural history matters - quite possibly the first to broadcast on such issues. He was also a Minister of the Methodist Church. He is most famous for his Out with the Romany radio programmes (later Out with Romany), which commenced in 1933 on the BBC's Children's Hour, describing travels in his vardo (Romany wagon), with Comma the horse, his English Cocker Spaniel Raq, and his young friends Muriel and Doris. Although the programmes were all pre-scripted and performed entirely in the studio, the impression given was of Romany and his friends going for a walk in the countryside and spontaneously discussing the plants and animals they came across. The Romany Society, originally formed in 1943, disbanded in 1965, and re-founded in 1996, celebrates his life and work, with regular newsletters and an annual magazine. Its patron is Terry Waite. The BBC radio programmes were all broadcast live, and only one recording survives - dated October 1943, just a month before his death. (Wiki) ***A first printing of the first edition, published in 1946, complete in its original post-war dustwrapper. Of interest to collectors of the nature writings of G. Bramwell Evens, the "Romany" of the B.B.C. ***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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