LEDA AND THE GOOSE

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Inscribed presentation copy from Hillier to his publisher John Guest, then from John Guest to the historical novelist Mary Renault. Publisher's original black cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the Val Biro designed dustwrapper. Illustrated with photographs in black and white. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm, bright and fresh with a touch of bumping at the spine tips and some oxidization of the gilt titles to the spine. The contents, with some offsetting to the endpapers, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the rubbed, nicked and toned dustwrapper that has several short tears and small chips, mainly at the fold corners. Not price-clipped (16/- net to the lower front flap).

A double presentation copy, first inscribed by the author (and artist) to his publisher (and editor) in blue ink at the head of the title page "To John Guest / from / Tristam Hillier / 13th January 1955", and 21 years after Hillier's presentation by John Guest in blue ink underneath "And / To Mary Renault / from / John Guest - in / memory of five extremely happy / days, 13th - 18th February, 1976 / There is a bibiographical footnote of mild interest: / for ages, we couldn't find a title for this / book - until I suggested the present one. Leda / is the name of Tristram's wife, and a long- / suffering woman she has been where he's / concerned. It was therefore with some hesitation / that I put forward the title, the more so as / Tristram (who has always been absurdly good-looking) / is somewhat vain. He accepted it with a sharp / glance at me and a wry smile / John". A notable association copy of the English surrealist painter's autobiography, with a distinguished provenance: from the author to his acclaimed editor at Longmans (later Penguin), and subsequently to his friend, a bestselling historical novelist.