ILLUMINATED

Two pages, 8vo, fold mark (stained), mainly good, text clear and complete. "My dear Mr. Adams, | Once more I hoped to be able to present to you as my Christmas present my forthcoming book (The Illuminated Book [underlined]). Unfortunately, its pubication has been postponed till Febr. 1958. | Hence, I cannot but send to you my warmest greeetings & my best wishes of A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY 1958. | I do hope to be able to meet you somewhere in London. I am aware that you have given up active studio-work, but I do not know whether you still have connections with your fromer studio in London.

1p., small 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper, with slight loss to one corner. Docketed by Clarabut at the head of the page: 'Re book of hours Christie lot 194 8.xii.58'. He thanks Clarabut for 'the solution of the bookplate', and asks him if he knows 'how & when that library was sold', as it would be 'interesting to note'. 'When at the Hague I'll see in my catalogue-list if I find anything on the name of Bateman.'

On one side of a piece of thin light-brown card, 41.5 x 31cm. In very good condition. What appears to be the calligrapher's tiny monogram in the bottom right-hand corner. A striking document which has, despite the date, a strangely 'New Age' feel about it. Illuminated in a range of pastel colours, picked out in gold, around the text at the head and down the margins, with illustrations of a church, a mountain and, at the head, the Innes family home. The calligraphy has a modern feel to it, with Celtic influences.

The six vols are uniformly octavo, in original blue cloth gilt. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In worn, spotted binding, with gilt on spine dulled. Each volume opens with several leaves of advertisements for dealers (ranging from Maggs and Quaritch to James Tregaskis and Frank Hollings) and a preface by the editor (that of 1918 describing as the 'outstanding features of the past season [...] the two sales of the Alfred Morrison Collection and the two 'Red Cross' sales'). Still a valuable reference tool, with many of the entries including a precis of the item or quotation from it.

Printed in red, black, blue, gold, orange and green on one side of a piece of paper, dimensions 20 x 12.5 cm. Good, on lightly-aged and spotted paper. Minor traces of stub on blank reverse. Attractive item, with twenty-six lines of rubricated text, surrounded by an ornated decorative border of foliage and birds in imitation of an illuminated manuscript. Headed 26, Queen's Row, Pimlico opposite the Royal Mews.', beneath which: 'Valentine Elkins Bookseller &c. of Baker St. Portman Sqe. Begs most respectfully to inform the Nobility & Gentry inhabitants of Belgrave Sqre.