Time Well Spent by Evelyn Cheesman

Time Well Spent by Evelyn Cheesman lands on the shelves of my shop.

The Travel Book Club, 1960, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: Victorian modesty, British understatement and the ruthless realism of both Elizabethan ages go to the make-up of Evelyn Cheesman. She has made many single-handed journeys to the islands inhabited by gentle Polynesians and violent Papuans and has perceived, with something of a divine sympathy, how these races think and feel. She has pursued with unfaltering industry and unflagging enthusiasm her quest for insects to enlarge the scientific knowledge of mankind.

Miss Cheesman writes a remarkable story, this time focussing her attention rather on the sidelights than the highlights of her explorations; the enchanting backwaters of the main stream of adventure. Here are the small, sharp, individual incidents which pin-point the work of an entomologist in the field: the illuminating difficulties of riding a horse up a mountain, the services in a remote church, the difficulties of obtaining clothes for work and play.

Good+ in Good Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded with a little soiling overall, a mark to the top corner of the upper panel. Gently bruised at the head, tail and corners of the binding. Edges of the text block lightly spotted. Pages lightly age-tanned, heaving to the blanks.

Blue boards with Black titling to the Spine. 224 pages. 8¾” x 5¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

An Artist’s Life by Alfred J. James Munnings

An Artist’s Life by Alfred J. [James] Munnings lands on the shelves of my shop.

Museum Press, 1951, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Black & White Drawings; Illustrated endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: SIR ALFRED MUNNINGS is one of the most justly famous figures of our time, not only for his own artistic gifts which earned for him the distinguished rank of President of the Royal Academy, but for being one of the most potent and irksome thorns in the flesh of the so-called modern art world. Certainly, adherents to the time-honoured tradition of representationalism could wish for no more fiery and forthright a champion than Sir Alfred.

A countryman born and bred, the true interpretation of Nature is his single aim. At the outset he lived in East Anglia. He worked hard; he played hard. He began his career as an artist with lithography and poster-design in Norwich, studying every evening at the School of Art there. But it was a visit to Bungay Races that first aroused his interest in racehorses, jockeys in silks, gipsy caravans and all the motley excitement of the racecourse.

To-day, so many people are wont to regard Sir Alfred as an exclusive painter of horses and the turf that they do not fully realise how widely he in fact interprets the English scene. Yet from a study of the text and copious illustrations in An Artists Life, it will be found that if Sir Alfred had not become an artist, he would almost certainly have been a farmer, a naturalist or a writer.

One of the most revealing things about this book is that it contains illustrations of the authors very earliest works long before he began to strive after success. This marriage of text and illustration makes it a valuable contribution to the two worlds of literature and art.

Good+ in Good+ Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded with fraying at the spine ends and corners. Gently bruised at the head, tail and corners of the binding. Pages lightly age-tanned with heavier tanning to the blanks.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 328 pages. Index. 9″ x 6″.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Drawing Fire: The Diary of a Great War Soldier and Artist by Len Smith

Drawing Fire: The Diary of a Great War Soldier and Artist by Len Smith lands on the shelves of my shop.

Collins, 2009, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Colour Drawings;

From the cover: To the reader.

In reading this diary it will be well to remember that it has with definite reason not been embellished or altered in any way from the original scrawl in an old French notebook.

I preferred to retain a faithful copy of the diary as written on the spot the spot being sometimes sordid, noisy, terrifying, wretched and utterly uncongenial to clear thought and orderly writing. And thus, tho it does not possess literary style, easy to read and understand. Yet I feel even in this very fact, it rings true and therein lies some claim to your kindly interest, as a faithful portrayal of the atmosphere which at that time prevailed.

It is a jotted down, rambling description of events day by day, strung together anyhow (as life was then) with no definite aim in view either to use or publish. Rather a mere pastime, just as one would take a hand at cards, or play the mouth-organ.

Remember too, there was always the persistent thought in the back of ones mind that it was all too foolish anyway that no effort was very worthwhile, there might never be a tomorrow”. Therefore friend, take it as it is written, a simple narration of how that big war in our time, touched the life of one, Smithie in France.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently bruised at the head of the spine and the top corners of the boards with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 381 pages. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Pure Curiosity: Botanical Letters and Notes Towards a Dictionary of Botanical Terms by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Pure Curiosity: Botanical Letters and Notes Towards a Dictionary of Botanical Terms by Jean-Jacques Rousseau lands on the shelves of my shop.

Paddington Press, 1979, Hardback in dust wrapper.

First in this edition. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Plates;

From the cover: An elegant and enchanting excursion into the world of botanical observation, Pure Curiosity combines the acute perception and sensitivity of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau with the skill and artistry of one of the greatest names in the history of botanical illustration, Pierre-Joseph Redoute, the celebrated Salon painter once hailed as the Raphael of flowers.

Throughout his lifetime Rousseau displayed a passionate interest in the study of plants and flowers, but never more so than in his last fifteen years, beginning in 1762 when the French government condemned Émille and he was forced to flee France to seek asylum in his native Switzerland. It was here, particularly on the island of Saint-Pierre in Lake Biel, and later in England, at Woolen Hall near the Staffordshire-Derbyshire border, that he began his botanical studies in earnest as much as a means of solace as out of a profound desire to classify and categorize the natural world about him.

Between 1771 and 1773 Rousseau encapsulated his experiences and observations in a series of eight letters written to guide a friend to instruct her daughter in the principles of botany. It is these so-called elementary letters that form the basis of Pure Curiosity. Notable for their charm, delicacy and lightness of touch, the letters were circulated widely in the intellectual salons fashionable at the time. First published in 1782, five years after his death, in a collected edition of his work, the letters were subsequently issued on their own in 1800 and 1802. It was not until 1805, however with the stunning addition of sixty-five color plates created from Redoutes minutely observed and magnificently executed watercolour illustrations that La Botanique, as it had come to be called, was hailed as a classic amongst connoisseurs of both flowers and books.

Superbly designed and produced, with a perceptive critical introduction by Roy McMullen, Pure Curiosity is a facsimile edition based on a new translation of Rousseaus letters and tin-colour plates of the third (1821) edition of La Botanique. Much more than just another flower album from a bygone era, it will delight and fascinate gardeners, plant lovers and any other thinking, sensitive human being who enjoys observing nature and the marvels of the universe.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Edges of the text block lightly spotted. Text complete, clean and tight.

Green Marbled Effect boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 154 pages. Index. 10″ X 7¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!