The Wayfarer

(Westerham, Kent): Westerham Press Limited, 1957. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Dulac, Edmund. First (and only) printing, octavo size, 66 pp., inscribed by Barbara Hutton. Barbara Woolworth Hutton (1912-1979) achieved fame - or notoriety - due to the immense wealth into which she was born, coupled with a "troubled private life" (n.b., quote from Wiki). Married seven times (one of her husbands being Cary Grant), losing her only son in a plane crash, she died at age 66 on the verge of becoming bankrupt. She became known as "the poor little rich girl" and her life has been portrayed in film several times.

This slender volume of poetry tells us some of the places Hutton visited (the Taj Mahal, Thebes, etc.) and people she knew, but mostly are poems of of yearning. Inscribed by Hutton on the front free endpaper, "To dearest Mrs Hill / with all [?] of love, / Barbara" (undated).

With a frontis portrait of the author by the well-known Edmund Dulac (1882-1953), the only illustrator of his day on a par with Arthur Rackham, known for his exquisite colours, oriental influence, and the versatility of his artistic endeavors. Per Hughey ("Edmund Dulac - His Book Illustrations"), "Dulac's three quarter portrait depicts her in her younger years, leaning into green pillows and attired in a purple dress, a beige jacket, and holding a white flower...His serious portraits, like this one, are remarkable likenesses of his subjects."

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full white vellum over boards, stamped in gilt on both boards with an all-over design of fleurs-de-lis centered in diamonds with a ruled border, gilt lettering on the spine, all edges gilt, inscription on the front free endpaper in black ink, the reproduction of the Dulac portrait in full colour facing the title page; octavo size (9" by 5 1/2"), pagination: [1-10] 11-66. Housed in a slipcase of sturdy cardboard covered in blue paper.

___CONDITION: Volume fine overall, with clean boards, the gilt on the covers bright but lightly rubbed, the gilt edges blindingly bright, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and other than the author's inscription entirely free of prior owner markings; but for the light rubbing to the gilt designs on the board (the slipcase fits a bit too snugly) it is as new. The slipcase near fine to fine, sturdy, without splits or tears, no wear at the opening, with perhaps a very light smudge on one side. Overall a stunning volume.

___CITATION: Hughey, no. 104.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

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