The Life of Lord Nuffield - Signed Presentation Copy with Compliments Slip, 1955

ANDREWS, P. W. S., and Elizabeth Brunner. The Life of Lord Nuffield: A Study in Enterprise and Benevolence. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1955. First edition, first impression. Publisher’s blue cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in the original dust wrapper. Signed by Lord Nuffield in blue ink on the half-title, with his printed compliments slip loosely inserted: “With the Compliments of The Viscount Nuffield.” A strong presentation copy of the first full-scale biography of William Morris, Viscount Nuffield - motor manufacturer, founder of Morris Motors, and one of the great British industrial philanthropists of the twentieth century. The book tells the story of his rise from bicycle repairer and garage proprietor to the creator of one of Britain’s most important motor businesses, before turning to the vast charitable benefactions that made the Nuffield name central to medicine, education, Oxford life and public welfare. The association is particularly attractive because this copy carries both Nuffield’s own signature and his compliments card, giving it the character of a personal presentation rather than merely a signed trade copy. The authors were closely connected with Nuffield’s own circle at Oxford, and the biography was written with his cooperation and with access to his records and papers, making it both an industrial history and a near-contemporary account of his public legacy. Illustrated throughout, including the frontispiece portrait and plates relating to Morris, Morris Motors, Cowley, Nuffield’s manufacturing empire, and his benefactions. A substantial post-war biography of 356 pages. Condition: very good internally, with clean pages and only light age toning. The cloth remains sound. Dust wrapper present but worn, with chipping, small losses, creasing, edge wear and marked sunning/fading to the spine panel, with some rubbing and discolouration. A paperclip mark is visible at the upper edge near the inserted compliments slip.…