A Calendar of English Husbandry : With The Very Scarce ‘Book Society – Page Proofs’

The First UK printing published by Collins, London in 1933. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Oblong folio, original green cloth with lettering and design by Leighton in gilt on the upper cover. One small area of fading to the front board upper corner. The original Leighton designed WRAPPER which repeat the endpaper designs is neatly price-clipped and is in near Fine condition. Light rubbing at spine ends and one small closed tear to the lower rear edge with light associated crease to the verso. Just a hint of toning to the spine. The wrapper is protected in a removable Mylar archival cover. In words and spectacular large wood engravings, Leighton gives a monthly account of rural agricultural life in 1930s England from the perspective of farm workers. A remarkable and radical production in a time when farm labourers were in a period of low wages and depression. Leighton lived among the workers in Buckinghamshire in order to get as close as possible to their lives and present it the wider world in this impressive way. In Gollancz's publicity for this work, Gill is quoted as writing 'Bewick and Raverat have done little engravings that are big in spirit, but no one in our time has succeeded better than Clare Leighton in penetrating the breath of the life of the earth on a scale so grand.' Written with 31 wood engravings by Clare Leighton. The 12 dramatic full page wood engravings, title vignette, 12 full pages, 12 initial letters and 6 tail-pieces are all complete. Clare Leighton's first book and still her most celebrated. Accompanied with a 'Book Society - Page Proofs' edition of 1933. This edition is wraps bound in card covers, a cloth spine and a printed label to the spine. There is some loss to the cloth spine ends and some markings and staining to the card covers. The printed label has some loss to the edges. Interestingly the author's first name is misspelt as 'Claire' on the label but correctly on the title page. This page proofs copy is identical to the first issue hardback internally though printed on lesser quality paper stock. Internally free of inscriptions etc. This proposed 'Book Society' edition was never issued and this copy may well be unique as I can find no record of such a 'proofs' copy listed elsewhere or having appeared in commerce. A highlight of 20th century book illustration. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.