Woolf, Virginia

8vo (216 x 143mm.), first edition, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO VIOLET TREFUSIS ("Violet Trefusis | from | Virginia Woolf") on the front endpaper, original green cloth, pictorial dust-jacket, collector's green cloth case and quarter green morocco clamshell box, some slight foxing and minor staining to cloth, jacket slightly browned and discoloured with a few small tears

Violet Trefusis, authorial presentation inscription (sale, Christie's, 25 November 1992, lot 83)

Kirkpatrick A18a; Woolmer 315

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate. The final two leaves are unopened and there is a short tear, not affecting text.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"I still remember her, like a fox club, all scent and seduction" (Virginia Woolf, speaking of Violet Trefusis, in a letter to Vita Sackville-West).

PRESENTATION COPY FROM WOOLF TO THE MODEL FOR THE RUSSIAN PRINCESS SASHA IN "ORLANDO".  Apparently the author presented this copy of the second series of The Common Reader to Violet Trefusis on the occasion of their one and only meeting. Virginia's portrayal of Violet in Orlando was based on information given by Vita Sackville-West, who of course had a tempestuous love affair with Violet, as vividly documented in Nigel Nicolson's book Portrait of a Marriage.

The writer Violet Trefusis (1894--1972) was the daughter of Mrs Alice Keppel (close friend of Edward VII) and the Honourable George Keppel. A woman of many gifts, she was formidably intelligent, highly educated and a brilliant conversationalist, and maintained a large circle of friends in literary, political and aristocratic circles in France (the country of her adoption), Italy and Britain.