W. Pett Ridge — Old and Happy

London , Blades, East and Blades, 1930. Cloth. A very scarce limited edition presentation copy signed by the author being number 148 of 500 with a list of subscribers to rear. An account by William Pett Ridge of his visit to the Almshouses in Wood Green along with a short story and a fable. Illustrated with a photogravure of the author to frontispiece and two photogravure illustrations by John Hassall and Will Owen. William Pett Ridge (1859 - 1930), English author. A compassionate man, giving generously of both his time and money to charity. He founded the Babies Home at Hoxton in 1907 and was an ardent supporter of many organisations that had the welfare of children as their object. This charitable zeal, and the fact that he established himself as the leading novelist of London life and character, led to him being characterised as the natural successor of Dickens. In a paper vellum covered binding. Externally, generally smart but with slight bumping to extremities, slight handling marks and a slight stain to front boards. Internally, generally firmly bound although stained in places. Bright but with very slight foxing, almost entirely to plates. Very Good . Ill.: John Hassall and Will Owen. Very Good .