Black Roses

London: William Heinemann, 1929. Leather. Very Good. 9" by 6". None. A signed limited edition copy of Francis Brett Young's famous work, from the Port Lympne Mansion library in Kent. Limited edition of five hundred and twenty five copies of which this is number five hundred and twenty. Signed by the author to the colophon. From the Port Lympne Mansion library with bookplate to front free endpaper. Port Lympne is an early twentieth century country house built for Sir Philip Sassoon, the British politician art collector and social host. The house, designed by Herbert Baker and Philip Tilden was extremely grand with four reception room, thirty bedrooms and two libraries, within which this work was originally housed. Black Roses is based on a Naples cholera epidemic told to young by his neighbour Edwin Cerio, a prominent Italian writer. In a full vellum binding. Externally very smart with handling marks to the boards. Boards slightly warped. Scattered spotting to boards. Tidemarks to extremities of pastedowns and endpapers. Bookplate of Port Lympne to front free endpaper. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with just the odd spot and marginal age toning. Pages roughly cut. Signed and numbered by the author to the colophon. Very Good