with a Preface by Evelyn St John Waugh
Thirty-Four Decorative Designs by Francis Crease with a Preface by Evelyn St John Waugh
Privately Printed 1927.
First edition, sole printing, limited to sixty copies "for private circulation". Folio. Original marbled paper covered boards with one of the Crease designs stamped on the front board. Pictorial title page plus 33 further Beardsley-esque designs by Francis Crease. A near fine copy with just a trace of wear to the spine ends.
Francis Crease was Evelyn Waugh's private art tutor while at Lancing, teaching him painting, calligraphy and graphic design. Waugh called him "one of two characters who were equal and opposite influences on my adolescence... a secret man" (A Little Learning). He also had some regard for Crease as an artist as a letter to Dudley Carew of 1922 attests,
"...a wider outlook has given me a far larger realisation of Crease's designs. I am convinced now that that man is a great artist. Before I hung my admiration on his character & did not understand his work fully. It is really great Carey. I am now convinced of that."
Although Waugh's contribution is merely listed as a preface, it is the sole text of the book, thus staking a claim to be considered his second published work (after PRB) and preceding all of his fiction.
Stock ID: 35417
£2,500.00
