MASON, A. E. W.

£200 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

Königsmark. First edition, first impression, presentation copy, with the author's presentation autograph letter mounted to the front free endpaper, dated 29 July 1935, "Dear Lady Baldwin. You told me that you liked an historical novel... 'Königsmark' shall be sent on to you as soon as a copy of it arrives".The recipient was Lucy Baldwin, Countess Baldwin of Bewdley (1869-1945). Baldwin's most significant public role was in her campaign for maternity care, and she made a major contribution to the passage of the Midwives Act of 1936, which created a national salaried service. She was the wife of Stanley Baldwin, three-time prime minister - her "conviction and encouragement gave her husband support throughout his political career" (ODNB).Mason wrote prolifically in the first half of the 20th century. Königsmark was among the last of Mason's historical novels, and with Fire over England in 1936, "represent[ed] both popular and artistic success" (ODNB). Provenance: the library of Lucy and Stanley Baldwin was sold at Sotheby's, 19 July 1994, this part of lot 312; it was purchased by Steve Forbes, chairman of Forbes Magazine, and presidential candidate in the 1996 and 2000 US elections (his book label is loosely inserted).

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