Maurice B. Reckitt — As It Happened an Autobiography

London, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. 1941. First edition. Cloth. An illustrated and very scarce first edition autobiography, with the original dust wrapper, once owned by journalist Robin Page Arnot. A very scarce first edition, in the original unclipped, and very scarce, dust wrapper. Bound in publisher's original cloth. The autobiography of Maurice B. Reckitt - the prominent English Anglo-Catholic and Christian writer of socialist literature. Reckitt, who was the founder of the Christendom Trust charity, was also the brother of Eva Collet Reckitt - founder of Collet's London bookshop. This copy features the pencil inscription of Communist journalist, author and Party functionary Robin Page Arnot to front free endpaper, along with his contemporary address. Together with Eva Reckitt, Arnot was associated with the Labour Research Department (previously called the Fabian Research Department. They joined the Communist Party around the same time. Illustrated throughout, this title features a monochrome frontispiece and seven further monochrome plates. Collated, complete. Bound in original beige cloth. In original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally very smart. Mild bumping to extremities. Slight fading to spine. Pencil inscription of Communist journalist, author and Party functionary Robin Page Arnot to front free endpaper. Ink inscription to rear free endpaper. The words 'complimentary copy not for sale' are hole punched into the rear free endpaper. Dust wrapper generally smart. Notable marks, sunning and age toning to dust wrapper cover and spine. Moderate chipping and rubbing to dust wrapper extremities. Moderate losses to dust wrapper spine head and tail. Moderate age toning and the odd tide mark to dust wrapper reverse. Internally, firmly bound, with very infrequent mild strain. Pages generally bright and clean, with occasional pencil and ink annotations. Very mild cockling throughout. Book has a mild but discernable smell. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good Indeed/Very Good.