Fine Books & Manuscripts

Lot #460:

LAWRENCE, Thomas Edward (1888–1935). Seven Pillars of Wisdo...

LAWRENCE, Thomas Edward (1888–1935). Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Foundations of Arab Revolt. [Privately printed, 1925]. Small 4to. (260 x 197 mm). Color collotype frontispiece of Galil Bey Chal’lan and a line cut illustration after Eric Kennington on p. 40. Publisher’s white paper wrappers, uncut (a tiny bit of dust soiling or minor toning to edges). SECOND STATE PROSPECTUS containing the first seven chapters for the 1926 “Subscribers’ Edition” of Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom. ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 100 COPIES printed for friends and prospective buyers showing format, paper, and type. O’Brien A036. –– [TOGETHER WITH:] A Notice to Subscribers. June 1, 1925. 4to. Single sheet printed on both sides that was sent to subscribers regarding the delay of the publication of the book. O’Brien A037. –– [ALSO WITH:] Some Notes on the Writing of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Shaw. [1927]. 4to. A single fold leaflet serving as an explanation of the writing of this book up to the time of issue. ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 COPIES for distribution to subscribers of Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Later issue with uncorrected error on p. 3 that reads “complaint” for “compliment”. This was later reprinted in the 1935 edition on p. 22. O’Brien A039. –– Together housed in a folding cloth clamshell box, leather spine label gilt. RARE.The first state of The Foundations of Arab Revolt (unillustrated) was printed in an edition of approximately 100 copies in 1924 and circulated to potential subscribers as a prospectus for the “Subscriber's Edition” of ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’. This edition was however delayed for multiple reasons, and thus a second issue of the prospectus was issued, omitting the introductory chapter of the first state, but adding a frontispiece and illustration by Kennington, and containing text from the first seven chapters. It was distributed with the letterpress 'A Notice to Subscribers' (as present here), which explains the reasons behind the delays and anticipates that printing will be complete by September 1925.