A GENTLEMAN PUBLISHER'S COMMONPLACE BOOK.

UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,reprint.[First published 1996 and reprinted twice in the same year - this being the 2nd reprint of that year. Compiled,designed,edited and typeset by John R. Murray in admiration of his father.] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn but price- clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,matt,colour illustrated dw/dj border by Edward Bawden and coloured by Alan Powers panels,with b/w lettering; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners, appears unread - apart from my own collation.Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered, publisher's original,plain dark blue cloth boards with bright,crisp, stamped,bordered gilt letters to spine/ backstrip and immaculate beige+white design eps.UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,2nd reprint edn,1- 119pp [paginated] includes note about the Commonplace Book and it's illustrations within,3 sections: The Core,Proverbs and Delightful Oddities,Emblems of Christian Life (b/w illustrations), acknowledgements and blank pages for reader's own personal additions; plus [unpaginated] half-title page with author's b/w photograph to it's recto,Edward Bawden b/w illustrated title page, dedication with publisher's colophon by Reynolds Stone to it's recto,b/w illustration by Osbert Lancaster to both sides of contents list/table. Jock Murray's commonplace book became legendary in his lifetime.If he to give an address as President of the English Association or a short speech at a god-daughter's wedding he would always dip into his commonplace book and draw out the perfect proverb or saying for the occasion.Whenever he came across something wise,thoughtful,inspiring,witty or simply odd he would write it into a tiny blue notebook he kept in his inside jacket pocket and then,when he had time,decant it into the commonplace book proper.Osbert Lancaster would descend on him most evenings after completing his Pocket Cartoon for the Daily Express,full of gossip and additions for the commonplace book. Freya Stark would send proverbs from Arabia,Axel Munthe an anecdote from Capri,and Peter Quenell would pass down gems from the floor above while editing the Cornhill Magazine.In addition to the commonplace book itself,this volume includes a wealth of illustrations either commissioned by Jock or sent to him on special occasions by his authors and friends - offerings from Arthur Rackham,John Piper, John Craxton,Eric Ravilious,Beryl Cook,Val Biro and countless others.Most of these have never been published before.This book is intended to give pleasure to all those who dip into it,and if a little wisdom rubs off,so much the better. Since April 2013,again in March 2015,and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering its prices,weight allowances,dimensions and lowered its qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!