Time Was Away

The First UK printing published by John Lehmann, London in 1948. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Original publisher's yellow buckram boards with green titling and decoration to the spine. This is the second state binding of the first printing (The first state had the binding of yellow buckram stamped in green and gilt on the spine). Some light pushing at the spine ends and mild bumping to the lower front corners. Internally clean. The fragile WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ condition. Light edge-wear at the spine ends and corners. A few small closed tears and a little toning to the spine and flap edges. Some very superficial rubbed areas to the spine and a very tiny area of loss to the front flap fold, which are barely discernible. The wraparound wrapper artwork by John Minton looks striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. 8 colour plates, and over 50 black and white drawings, mainly full-page, by John Minton. Alan Ross and John Minton's artistic collaboration and ode to the island of Corsica. Ross and Minton were commissioned by the publisher John Lehmann to travel to Corsica and put together a book of words and images. They visited the island in the post-war summer of 1947. The resulting travelogue contains history, descriptions, impressions, maps, stories, poems and illustrations. Minton's Neo-Romantic illustrations perfectly capture the heat and spirit of the island and the book is arguably his most successful and influential illustrated work. The title comes from the Louis MacNeice line - 'Time was away and somewhere else.' [Spalding, Frances. John Minton. Dance Till The Stars Come Down. 2005. p. 109-14.]. One of the nicest copies that we have handled to date and now increasingly elusive in collectible condition. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.