About this Item
The sole UK printing published by the Golden Cockerel Press, UK in 1935. Large 8vo., original publisher's binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe of green morocco-backed marbled paper boards, spine lettered in gilt with cockerel device to the foot; upper edge gilt, else untrimmed; with decorative title and a further four full-page woodcuts by John Nash, along with Cockerel device to the colophon. Essentially a near Fine, clean copy with light rubbing to the board edges and a hint of sunning to the spine. The book is protected in a removable Mylar cover. Limited edition, one of just 325 copies printed on Batchelor hand-made paper and printed in Golden Cockerel type. This no. '274', additionally signed by the author to the limitation page. This copy formerly in the possession of the Duchess of Westminster Loelia Lindsay (later Westminster), with her bookplate designed by Rex Whistler affixed to the front paste-down. The book comes complete with the publisher's four-page Prospectus, replicating the title and two further sample pages. A heartwarming work which expresses, in prose, Bates's love of flowers, combined with personal reminiscences on family and his own childhood. Divided into eight sections, the work explores the saga of the acquisition of the Granary (his four bedroom house in Kent where he would famously pen 'The Darling Buds of May') and the taming of its gardens, along with the home and garden of his great-grandmother Mrs. Lawrence. The work is dedicated to his daughters, Ann and Judith 'my little flowers'. "it is written out of the heart and with great love for the flowers and people it describes", Bates writes in his introduction. "And flowers and love, as inspirations for the poet, require no justification or apology. They are as fresh and eternal as the heart itself." The book is accompanied by a series of floral plates by John Nash, who himself had a great love for botany and frequently used his own garden - which was filled with roses, irises and other such plants - as live specimens for his studies. Referring to himself as an artist plantsman , it is perhaps unsurprising that Nash was asked to provide the present illustrations for Bates's work on flowers, and it was considered by the artist to be some of his best work. The relationship between author and poet was somewhat soured, however, when Bates informed Nash at a publisher s party that he had ruined the book by creating illustrations which were too overpowering in relation to the text. Loelia Lindsay was the only daughter of Sir Frederick Ponsonby and Lady Sysonby, the well-known cook book author. In 1930 Loelia married Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, in a high-profile ceremony which saw Winston Churchill as the best man. The marriage lasted until 1947 when the pair separated, and Loelia subsequently spent the majority of her time at Send in Surrey, where she occupied herself with gardening, a passion she had inherited from her mother. It is perhaps therefore unsurprising that she would own such a book in her library. The charming bookplate by Rex Whistler shows the clock tower of St James's Palace surrounded by an extravagant wreath of leaves and flowers. An exceptional copy with these combined attributes, with the bookplate in and of itself a collector's item. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.
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