This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2025
HUXLEY, Aldous (1894-1963). Island. London: Chatto & Windus, 1962. 8vo. 286, [2, blank] pp. Publisher's full red cloth, spine stamped in gilt and white (binding worn, soiled, ink mark on front board, endleaves foxed, occasional foxing, creasing in text). Fair. FIRST EDITION OF HUXLEY'S FINAL BOOK BEFORE HIS DEATH; PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY HUXLEY TO HIS FRIEND, THE CONTROVERSIAL EDUCATOR MARGARET CORBETT: “For Margaret Corbett from her old friend Aldous Huxley 1962". Inscription is sloppy and traced over, presumably by Huxley, whose health had been poor for years. Corbett (1889-1962) was a proponent and teacher of the controversial (and now discredited) method of teaching eyesight improvement, The Bates Method (originated by her husband's ophthalmologist, Dr. William Bates). This method emphasized mental drills to improve vision. She was prosecuted in 1940 for practicing medicine without a license, but was acquitted, as she never claimed medical training – she merely taught. Huxley was one of her pupils, and she so inspired him that he wrote The Art of Seeing (1942).