Bonhams 1793 : LAWRENCE (T.E.) The Mint, FIRST EDITION, NUMBER 10 OF ONLY 50 COPIES, A.W. LAWRENCE AND EDWARD ELIOT'S COPY, 1936

The Mint. Notes Made in the R.A.F. Depot Betwen August and December 1922, and at Cadet College in 1925. By 352087 A/c Ross, FIRST EDITION, NUMBER 10 OF ONLY 50 COPIES, A.W. LAWRENCE AND EDWARD ELIOT'S COPY, with ink ownership inscriptions of A.W. Lawrence on front free endpaper and verso of title, and later pencilled inscriptions of Eliot below, uncut in publisher's half vellum, leather title label on spine, t.e.g. [O'Brien A166], small folio, Garden City, Doubleday, Doran, 1936

Estimate:

£6,000 - 8,000
€7,000 - 9,300
US$ 9,100 - 12,000

Footnotes

LAWRENCE'S CONTROVERSIAL ACCOUNT OF LIFE IN THE R.A.F., PUBLISHED IN AN EDITION OF ONLY 50 COPIES TO SECURE COPYRIGHT. Lawrence had begun taking notes for this projected insider's view of the ranks on joining the R.A.F in 1922, but the project was set aside when he was dismissed from the Force in January 1923. After publication of Seven Pillars, whilst he was in India, Lawrence reworked his notes and send a draft to Edward Garnett, who circulated copies to Air Marshall Trenchard amongst others. The latter's response led Lawrence to promise not to publish the work until at least 1950, but towards the end of his life he made further revisions with a view to private publication. After his death, the manuscript surfaced in America and was published to protect copyright, at a prohibitive price of $500,000.

The present copy is one of a number presented by A.W. Lawrence, in this case given "on permanent loan" to T.E. Lawrence's solicitor and Revolt in the Desert trustee Edward Eliot. Following the latter's death, it passed to Peter Eliot with A.W. Lawrence's blessing.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

Auction terms and conditions