East Africa

London: Penns in the Rocks Press by William Collins, 1941. First edition. Leather. Fine. 9.5" by 6.5". Not Stated. A finely bound first edition travel work on East Africa, in a striking binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe made for Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. The first edition of this work.A charming concise travel work on East Africa by Elspeth Huxley, part of the series 'The British Commonwealth in Pictures'.Illustrated with twelve colour plates, and monochrome illustrations throughout.Collated, complete.Huxley was an author, journalist, farmer, and also the cousin of the author Aldous Huxley.In a striking binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Pleydell-Bouverie was a close friend of Stanley Bray, who worked at the firm for over 60 years. He often bound books for her as gifts.From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, from her library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. After being widowed at 25, Audrey married the fabulously wealthy American department store heir, Marshall Field III, later divorcing him and marrying the Honorable Peter Pleydell-Bouverie. In 1940 she bought Julians Park and redesigned the interior. Her library was impressive, with many examples of her own bookbinding.Audrey was an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty, the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII (though she was also rumoured to be his daughter, or the lover of King Edward VIII), featured in the 'Book of Beauty' by Cecil Beaton. She had many high profile friends, such as Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, Fred Astaire, and Nancy Mitford, a sparkling hostess of the Edwardian period, her hedonistic antics bringing her into the Bright Young Things. In a half morocco binding with patterned paper to the boards by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. Externally, fine. A couple of very faint marks to the boards. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Fine