Ashcombe the Story of a Fifteen-Year Lease

London: B. T. Batsford LTD, 1949. First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Very Good. 8.5" by 5.5". Cecil Beaton. A beautiful first edition of Cecil Beaton's touching work on his home, Ashcombe, illustrated with his own 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'.Stamp to the front pastedown. In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, smart. Boards are lightly discoloured, with a few light marks. Light bumping to the spine and extremities. Stamp to the front pastedown. Dustwrapper is edgeworn with some chips and closed tears, with some tape repairs to the reverse of the wraps. Dustwrapper is a little discoloured, with a few light spots. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good Indeed