Ashcombe the Story of a Fifteen-Year Lease

London: B. T. Batsford LTD, 1949. First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Good Only. 8.5" by 5.5". Cecil Beaton. The first edition of Cecil Beaton's sentimental work on his time spent living at Ashcombe House, illustrated with his own paintings and photographs. The first edition of this work.In the original unclipped dustwrapper, illustrated by Rex Whistler.A touching biographical look at the Georgian manor house Ashcombe, a beautiful house in Wiltshire.Beaton leased this house for fifteen years, from 1930 to 1945. In this work he recounts his love of the house, as well as the various entertainments he hosted there. He loved the house so much that he was heartbroken when he had to leave in 1945, a sentiment addressed in this work.Illustrated with a colour frontispiece, thirty-two monochrome plates, and in-text illustrations.Collated, complete.Illustrated and written by Cecil Beaton. Beaton is a renowned fashion, portrait, and war photographer, well known and loved for his stage and costume design for films and theatre. He won Academy Awards for his costume design for the films 'Gigi' and 'My Fair Lady'.Bookplate of Stephen Pitt Hatherall Long to the front pastedown, bookseller's label to the front pastedown. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto to the front endpaper. In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, smart. Light bumping to the spine and extremities. Bookplate and bookseller's label to the front pastedown. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto to the front endpaper. Dustwrapper is torn in two, lacking the backstrip. Light edgewear to the wraps, with small closed tears. A little discolouration to the wraps, with some spots to the reverse. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and generally clean with some spots, mostly to the first and last few pages. Very Good Indeed