Escape

London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1929. First edition, first printing. This is a very good copy. In the original dust jacket, designed by Emma S. Duffin, which has some moderate areas of loss to the corners. It has not been price clipped (4s. 6d. net). The boards are sharp in the original oatmeal cloth, with an ink-stamped impression of the cover illustration to the front panel. The text blocks are dusted with foxing, which continues faintly on the prelims. Ruth Duffin signs her name on the front pastedown, dating the inscription to 1941. There is an additional previous owners inscription to the front fly – neat and elegantly penned. Overall, this is a very good copy of a nice signed title. A collaboration between three sisters, Ruth (1877-1968); Celia (1887-1983) and Emma Duffin (1883-1979). Ruth and Celia contribute the verse, and Emma the cover illustration. This copy is signed by the eldest of nine children in all – Ruth. Born to a wealthy Belfast family, she was educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and later, with her mother, spent over forty years transcribing, editing and cataloguing William Drennan’s letters.…