Farewell Speech of King Edward the Eighth Broadcast from Windsor Castle the Tenth Day of December, MCMXXXVI; With the Instrument of Abdication & A Note by William Saroyan

San Francisco: Ransohoffs [Printed at the Grabhorn Press], 1938. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. Dean, Mallette. Limited edition, one of 200 copies, folio size, unpaginated [28] pp. Edward VIII (1894-1972), Prince of Wales, then King Edward VIII, and then the Duke of Windsor, made history when he abdicated the British throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, whom the monarchy and Parliament considered unacceptable for a future king to wed. Viewed as a hero by some for choosing love over kingship, Edward VIII gave an impassioned speech on the event of his abdication, saying, ". . .I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love."

This speech is printed here in an elegant edition by the Grabhorn Press, with a note by William Saroyan (1908-1981), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist, who here writes an eloquent defence of Edward VIII's decision and of love in general. Included also is an exquisitely detailed colour wood engraving by Mallette Dean (1907-1975), an eminent printmaker and illustrator of the San Francisco Bay Area who illustrated books for the Grabhorn Press for fifteen years.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter white goatskin with tan cloth boards, four-colour wood engraving by Mallette Dean on the front board, brown lettering on the spine, four raised bands on the spine, four-colour wood engraving by Mallette Dean printed again on the page following the title page, first five lines of text from the speech highlighted in gilt, colophon in red; handset Lutetia type, American mold made paper, folio size (13.25" by 10"), pagination: 25 unnumbered pages, one of 200 copies, unnumbered.

___CONDITION: Near fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; a hint of rubbing and slight dustiness to the soft goatskin and very light toning to the free endpapers, else fine.

___CITATIONS: Grabhorn Bibliography, no. 299; Hawk no. 172.

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