Sacheverell Sitwell; Wilfrid Blunt; James Russell — Old Garden Roses

London, George Rainbird , 1955-7. First edition. Paperback. Two volumes of this limited edition work dedicated to garden roses, with lovely illustrations after Charles Raymond. Limited edition of this charming large paper volume, with chapters on old roses by Sacheverell Sitwell, and on the history of old garden roses by James Russell to volume I; and a study of roses in literature by Wilfrid Blunt, on the Gallica Rose by James Russell. With lists of subscribers and a foreword by Graham Thomas as well as a preface by the author. Complete in two volumes. With a frontispiece and seven further coloured plates of reproductions from paintings by Charles Raymond to each volume. Collated, complete. One of one-thousand-two-hundred-and-sixty copies printed on Marshall and Co.'s 'Landmark' cartridge, bound by Mansell Ltd of London. The present is number one-thousand-one-hundred-and-twenty-four and three-hundred-and-three. In the original publisher's binding over paper covered boards, with title label to front board. Externally sound with shelf wear, chipped to extremities of the boards, back-strip laid down, spine chipped with loss to head and tail, front joint starting. Library bookplate to front pastedown, stamp to limitation page, slip to rear pastedown. Internally, binding generally firm. Pages bright and clean. With eight full page coloured plates to each volume. Collated, complete. Good . Ill.: Charles Raymond. Good .