Beschreibung:

SACKVILLE-WEST, Vita (1892-1962)
Chatterton, A Drama in Three Acts. Sevenoaks: privately printed by J. Salmon, 1909.
First edition of the author’s first book, presentation copy to Joan Musgrave, with corrections to pages 42 and 50; these are presumably in the author's hand since they correspond to other presentation copies. Sackville-West ‘set great store by Chatterton and acted it out for herself in the attic at Knole, “moved to tears every time by my own performance”’ (Glendinning, p.33). She had it privately printed in 100 copies at a cost £5 which she saved from her pocket-money. The recipient, Joan Jameson (nee Musgrave) was an Irish artist whose social circles clearly overlapped with those of Sackville-West. Her first cousin, Muriel Dunsmuir, was briefly married to couturier Edward Molyneux, an early lover of Harold Nicolson (Vita’s husband). See Cross A1.
Octavo (215 x 137mm). Half-title (slight wrinkle in 2 leaves). Original blue cloth lettered in gilt on upper cover and spine (lower corners just bumped, very minor wear at spine). Provenance: Joan Moira Maud Musgrave Jameson (1892-1953; presentation inscription ‘Joan, / from the author. / July 1910’, bookplate).