Diana Cooper, inscribed, signed, and dated by Diana Cooper in the year of publication to John Nova Phillips
$250 · Offered by Biblio
First edition · Signed
London: Hamish Hamilton, 1981. First edition. Hardcover. This first edition, first printing of the biography of Lady Diana Cooper is inscribed and signed by Lady Cooper in the year of publication and offers a convocation of literary associations. Lady Cooper inscribed the half title in seven lines: "For John Phillips, after | many years of | great | affection | from | Diana Cooper | Sept 7th '81". The only previous ownership mark in the book is the illustrated bookplate of "JOHN NOVA PHILLIPS" affixed to the upper front pastedown. John Nova Phillips (1926-2016) was "a literary figure from a bygone age, who could have been a character in a novel by Somerset Maugham" and was the longtime companion of, and served as literary executor for, Violet Trefusis, author, socialite, and known for her lengthy affair with Vita Sackville-West. Cooper was 89 years old when she signed and inscribed this book, and her slightly shaky hand shows the toll of age. Condition of both book and jacket is very good. The binding is square, bright, and tight with only minor blemishes and light shelf wear to extremities. Light spotting is primarily confined to the prelims and endpapers. The dust jacket is unclipped, retaining the publishers original £9.95 net price, unfaded, and substantially complete, with trivial loss confined to the upper joints. The jacket shows light soiling, mostly to the white rear face, and some shelf wear to extremities. The jacket is protected beneath a clear, removable, arch
- Publisher: Hamish Hamilton
- Year: 1981
- Edition: First Edition
- Printing: first
- Binding: hardcover
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