With four pen-and-ink illustrations by Eric Kennington
The poetical works ... including the unpublished French Revolution together with the minor prophetic books and selections from The Four Zoas, Milton & Jerusalem. Edited with an introduction and textual notes by John Sampson
London, Edinburgh [et al.]: Oxford University Press, 1913. Oxford Edition, 8vo, pp. lvi, 453, [1]; frontispiece portrait, 15 plates showing title pages of Blake's books; original blue cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover and spine; front hinge starting, else very good. This copy enhanced with an inscription from Celandine Kennington (i.e. Edith Celandine Kennington), the wife of the sculptor and illustrator (of T. E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Widsom, among others) on the verso of the front free endpaper: "To Perham, most excellent of guardians from a grateful ward. Celandine Kennington / Holly Copse. Aug. 1923." On the pastedowns and free endpapers there are four full-page pen and ink illustrations by Eric Kennington. A pencil note at the bottom of the second illustrations reads: "Eric Kennington's portrayal of M.F.P.'s character." Perham is almost certainly Dame Margery Freda Perham (1895-1982), the African scholar and writer. In a letter from Brad Fraught, her biographer, we learn that "During the First World War she gave lectures to British soldiers and in 1919 she was sketched by one of Eric K's wartime artist colleagues and friends, (Sir) William Rothenstein. (The sketch can be found under her name on the website of the National Portrait Gallery.) It's certainly possible that Kennington's illustration is a reference to Perham's character, which, if not 'volcanic', was certainly forthright and one of high confidence. In 1923, she had not yet gone on her two round the world trips, so her extensive travels would not have come into play." Item #58681
Price: $2,950.00
