Near East

London: B. T. Batsford, 1943 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Good. 9.5" by 6.5". Cecil Beaton. The first edition of Cecil Beaton's account of his wartime experiences in the Middle East, illustrated throughout with his photographs. The first edition, first impression of this work, in the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper.Illustrated with a frontispiece and twenty-two double-sided photographic plates. Collated, complete.Beaton begins his introduction by explaining that 'last march I was 'loaned' by the Ministry of Information, for a period of three months, to the Air Ministry, to collect material for certain reports and to take photographs in the Middle East'. This work provides an account of his time in the region.With faint pencil underlining throughout. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Small area of light fading to head of front board, otherwise externally excellent. Major loss to dust wrapper back strip tail, with further losses to wrap heads and back strip head. Significant closed tear to rear wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright, with only the odd spot, and with instances of neat pencil underlining throughout. Very Good Indeed