Days in Old Spain, by Gertrude Bone — 1st Edition

Publication: London, Macmillan and Co. Ltd, 1938

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xiv, 260.

Condition Report: Very Good. The volume presents beautifully in its original publisher's quarter-style binding, with the black cloth spine and gilt lettering remaining exceptionally bright and unoxidised. The marbled boards are clean and vibrant, showing only faint rubbing to the extremities and corners, indicative of careful shelving. Internally, the binding is tight and square. There is some light, scattered foxing primarily confined to the preliminary leaves, endpapers, and text-block edges, but the pages remain generally bright and free from significant blemishes. The original unclipped dust jacket displays minor age-toning and light edge-wear, most notably a small closed tear and crease to the head of the spine, yet it remains highly attractive and structurally sound in a protective sleeve.

Catalogue Note: This is the first trade edition, handsomely presented in a publisher's binding of black cloth over marbled boards. The work is richly illustrated by the author's husband, the acclaimed Scottish printmaker and draughtsman Sir Muirhead Bone, featuring a colour frontispiece and numerous black-and-white plates and vignettes that capture the architectural and cultural landscape of pre-war Spain. (Note that the rear panel of the dust jacket serves as a publisher's advertisement for the much larger, limited elephant folio edition titled Old Spain, which was published simultaneously).

This particular copy boasts exceptional provenance and is accompanied by a remarkable collection of laid-in ephemera. Included are three original Autograph Letters Signed (ALS) on 'Grayflete, Ferry Hinksey, Oxford' and 'The Esplanade Hotel, Seaford' stationery, one penned by Gertrude Bone and two by Sir Muirhead Bone, addressed to a Mr. Daws. The correspondence intimately discusses their willingness to sign his copy of the book (though the book itself remains unsigned by the authors) and extensively details Sir Muirhead's efforts alongside legendary cellist Pablo Casals to raise funds for the relief of Spanish children during the Spanish Civil War. A 1939 printed Christmas card from Gertrude, Muirhead, and Gavin Bone is also included.

The half-title page bears the neat previous ownership signature of Molly Daws. While standard copies of this title appear on the open market with some regularity, the presence of such historically resonant, handwritten correspondence from both author and illustrator elevates this copy to a unique level of scarcity.

A captivating and evocative travelogue, Days in Old Spain chronicles Gertrude Bone's extensive journeys across the Iberian Peninsula during a time of immense historical transition. With a keen eye for local customs, rural landscapes, and ancient architecture, her lyrical prose offers a vivid portrait of a nation steeped in tradition. The narrative is beautifully complemented by Sir Muirhead Bone's masterful illustrations, making it an essential and visually stunning record for enthusiasts of Spanish history and 1930s European travel.