Spender, Stephen ~ Spiritual Exercises : Inscribed By The Author To The Composer Arthur Bliss

Privately Printed At The Curwen Press : 1943

The sole UK printing privately printed at The Curwen Press In 1943. Number '22' of only 125 numbered copies 'as a greeting for Christmas and the new year 1944 for their friends from Stephen and Natasha Spender'. The Book is in Very Good++ condition. The original patterned wrappers designed by Edward Bawden and printed by The Curwen Press are detached at the spine with a little loss at the upper spine fold. These however, come together nicely in the removable Mylar archival cover. The fragile paper label is complete and tipped to the front cover. Slight toning to the cover edges. The sewn contents are clean with just a hint of toning to the extreme page edges. The book has been inscribed by the author to the title page : 'To Arthur and Trudy, Barbara and Karen, Bliss, Best Christmas Wishes 1943, from Stephen and Natasha Spender'. The recipient was Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss CH KCVO who was an eminent English composer and conductor. In the Second World War, Bliss had returned to England from the USA to work for the BBC and had become its Director of Music. After the war he resumed his work as a composer, and was later appointed 'The Master of the Queen's Music'. A wonderful association copy of a scarce title.

BINDING: Wraps
CONDITION: Very Good++