The History of Mountbatten (Cattewater) Typescript and Original Photographs
A typescript with original photographs bound with card covers with printed title and RAF crest of Royal Air Force Station Mountbatten, produced for internal use only. A unique item from the family of TE Lawrence companion Tom Beaumont, with Ministry of Defence stamp to rear board dated 3 Oct 1966. Comprising 27 typed pages and some 20 original photographs documenting the history of the station incldes views of the site and a 200 motor boat and Sunderland flying boat etc. Mentions TE Lawrence (Shaw) on 6 and 10. Please contact us for further details.
A fine, new copy in blue quarter cloth with silver facsimile initial “TES” to front board and silver title to spine. A limited edition of just one hundred and fifty copies, each hand numbered. 36pp with 5 plates in b/w.. An essay written following the discovery of a 1925 letter written by Lawrence to Captain Raymond Goslett that was found tipped into copy number 50 of the UK limited issue of Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Analysing the letter in depth, this work seeks to give us insight into the enigmatic figure who became immortalised as Lawrence of Arabia, as well as providing an insight into two of his friends.
A little book with an intriguing connection to Lawrence of Arabia: Richard Knowles tells the story.
The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which is to Come. Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream. Wherin is Discovered the Manner of His Setting Out; His Dangerous Journey and Safe Arrival at the Desired Country. Essex House Press, 1899.
This is without doubt T.E. Lawrence’s own copy, number 407 of an edition of 750 copies. It is recorded in “T.E. Lawrence by His Friends” that this numbered copy was in the Clouds Hill Library of T.E. Lawrence. In “Friends, Vyvyan Richards records that; “He had a very good collection of the best hand-press books, from Kelmscott to Ashendene, and also a number of finely tooled bindings in which he rejoiced. In fact in order to decide on the type to be used in printing his own book, (Seven Pilliars, 1926) we gathered these hand-printed books in his room at All Souls College, and strewed them open over tables and chairs so that we could walk round and compare them. We chose independently and without discussion, and it was a satisfaction that we both wanted the same – the beautiful little Bunyan of C.R. Ashbee, a Caslon fount. This face has preserved its tradition so well that I do not think it was necessary to have special dies cut for the matrix of the monotype caster”. Here is that very volume! This is the third book from the Essex House Press while it was printing in East London. The Press had been founded by Laurence Hodson and C.R. Ashbee “in the hope to keep living the traditions of good printing that William Morris had revived”. They used two compositers and a pressman straight from Kelmscott. So here is a thrilling little book with a wonderful provenance.
Our latest film on YouTube: Richard Knowles of Rickaro Books, Horbury, traces the connections of a book from the shelves of the library of Lawrence of Arabia, at his house at Clouds Hill.
