Very scarce as the complete series
Piper, John : Bawden, Edward : Craxton, John : Scott, William : Colquhoun, Robert et al. (Illustrators.) ~ A Complete 7 Volume Set of ‘New Excursions into English Poetry’ : With Their Scarce Illustrated Wrappers
Frederick Muller Ltd, London : 1944-1947
A complete 7 volume set of 'New Excursions into English Poetry' published between 1944 and 1947 by Frederick Muller Ltd, London during war time economy standards. All 7 BOOKS are the First UK printings. All wrappers are protected in removable Brodart archival covers. 'This series is something of an experiment and demands original work both from the anthologer and the artist, who have worked in collaboration, though there has been no attempt to give literal and pictorial illustrations of the actual poems.' A superb collection of important poetry anthologies in original wrappers and illustrated with original lithographs by some of the leading Neo-Romantic artists of the period. Vol.1 : 'English Scottish & Welsh Landscape Verse' chosen by John Betjeman and Geoffrey Taylor with lithographs by John Piper. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. The WRAPPER is neatly price-clipped and is in Very Good++ condition with small losses to the spine ends. Vol.2 : 'The Poets Eye' anthology chosen by Geoffrey Grigson with 16 lithographs by John Craxton. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. The WRAPPER is complete and also is in like near Fine condition with some light age related markings to the rear panel. This title is the scarcest of the set to find with its wrapper in such collectible condition. Many copies have been broken with the striking lithographs having been sold separately. Vol.3 :'Sea Poems' chosen by Myfanwy Piper with original lithographs by Mona Moore. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Neat dated previous owner's name to the upper front paste-down. Some spotting to the upper text-block which has just lightly encroached on the page edges in a few places. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with very slight edge-wear and toning to the spine and folds. Vol. 4: 'A Soldiers’ Verse' with lithographs by William Scott. Both the BOOK and WRAPPER are in Very Good++ or better condition. Internally clean. The wrapper has slithers of loss to the spine ends and lower corners. Vol. 5: 'Poems of Death' verses chosen by Phoebe Pool with lithographs by Michael Ayrton. The BOOK is in near fine condition.The WRAPPER is complete and is also in near Fine condition with very slight loss to the lower spine end. Vol.6 : 'Travellers’ Verse' chosen by M.G. Lloyd Thomas with lithographs by Edward Bawden. The BOOK is in near fine condition. Neat dated penned previous owners name to the front blank end-paper. The WRAPPER is complete and is also in near Fine condition with only the very slightest of edge-wear. Vol.7 : 'Poems of Sleep and Dream' chosen by Carol Stewart with lithographs by Robert Colquhoun. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Internally clean. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with slight slither of loss at the spine ends and a little toning to the spine. This title has become increasingly scarce to find with its wrapper in collectible condition. A handsome complete set and rarely found in such condition with their wrappers.
BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++/Near Fine
JACKET: Very Good++/Near Fine
£1450
