Lot 332
  • 332

T.E. LAWRENCE, AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, TO C. AND C. MCLEISH

Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
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Description

  • Thomas Lawrence
  • Autograph letter signed ("TE Shaw"), to Charles McLeish
  • ink on paper
expressing his hope that McLeish "will bind many copies of my book [Seven Pillars of Wisdom]", which has been delayed "because of an accident to two coloured plates", 1 page, 8vo, 5 October 1926, with a pencil subscription in an unknown hand recording that "Mr McLeish bound about 70-75 of the limited 1st edition of the Seven Pillars, including the ones for King George V, G.B. Shaw & Lawrences own copy", with an autograph envelope postmarked from "[RAF Cranwell] Lincs" 

Provenance

Christie's, London, 7 June 2006, lot 102; Paul Frederick Helfer (1936-2015); Christie's, New York, 8 December 2015, lot 259

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"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."

Catalogue Note

C. and C. McLeish, run by Charles McLeish (1859-1949) and his son, was one of the best binderies in London - the elder McLeish having worked for Riviere and the Doves Press before establishing his own bindery. Lawrence sent copies of the 1926 Seven Pillars of Wisdom to various binders, stipulating that each copy should be different, but McLeish was entrusted with more copies than any other single binder. The delay with the printer mentioned by Lawrence was a result of Eric Kennington finding faults with certain plates. For an example of McLeish's work see previous lot.