G. M. Young — Gibbon

London, Peter Davies, 1932 . First edition. Cloth. Artist Rex Whistler's personal copy of the first edition of this biography of historian Edward Gibbon, signed to the title page by Whistler and with a small illustration in his hand. The first edition of English historian G. M. Young's biographical study of the life and career of essayist, historian, and politician Edward Gibbon, best known for his impressive 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire&apos.Illustrated with a silhouette frontispiece.With the inscription of artist Rex Whistler, a painter of murals and society portraits who designed theatrical costumes,  to the head of the title page. Whistler has also created a small illustration to the centre of the title page, with the intertwined letters 'EG' - for Edward Gibbon - surrounded by leaves.Whistler was killed in action in Normandy in 1944, during the Second World War. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Light shelf wear to back strip tail, with light fading towards centre of front board. Internally, firmly bound. Inscription and illustration to title page. Pages clean and bright Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good Indeed .