English Music Leather - 1941

London: Penns in the Rocks Press by William Collins, 1941. First edition. Leather. Near Fine. 9" by 6.5". Various. A beautifully bound first edition copy of this charming history of English music, bound for Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. The first edition of this work.A charming volume of the music of England, a lovely history by W. J. Turner. part of the series 'Britain in Pictures'. Illustrated with twelve colour plates, and monochrome illustrations throughout.Collated, complete.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 crushed morocco binding with marbled paper to the boards by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Externally, spine is lightly faded. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and generally clean with some spots, including to the fore edge. Near Fine