¡OHO!, Laurence Whistler & Rex Whistler — 1st Edition

£35.00

¡OHO!, Laurence Whistler & Rex Whistler — 1st Edition

Name: ¡OHO!, Laurence Whistler & Rex Whistler — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5311
Price: 35.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, John Lane The Bodley Head, 1946

Formatting: Small 4to, pp. [32].

Condition Report: Very Good. The original pictorial paper-covered boards are remarkably bright and clean for a publication of this era and format, exhibiting only minor rubbing to the corners, a touch of gentle wear to the spine extremities, and light surface toning. The binding remains square, firm, and tight. Internally, while the preliminary and terminal endpapers show mild, scattered foxing and age-toning, the main body of text and the illustrations are exceptionally clean, bright, and free of major blemishes, making for a highly presentable surviving copy of a fragile production.

Catalogue Note: First edition. A brilliant posthumous collaboration between the Whistler brothers, issued shortly after Rex Whistler’s tragic death in action during the Second World War in 1944. This highly original volume gathers Rex’s whimsical and surreal "reversible faces," originally conceived as advertising illustrations in the early 1930s, and pairs them with satirical verses by his brother, Laurence.

The book is celebrated for its ingenious bidirectional layout, designed with no true front or back cover. Instead, the volume features two title pages, allowing the reader to turn the book upside down to reveal entirely different characters in the illustrations and a corresponding second set of poems.

Copies surviving in tight, presentable condition are becoming increasingly uncommon, particularly as the fragile paper-covered boards are highly susceptible to chipping and wear. This copy is offered without the rare dust wrapper but stands as an attractive, well-preserved example of the boards themselves.

A whimsical and faintly macabre collaboration between the Whistler brothers, ¡OHO! is a brilliant gallery of two-faced characters. Presenting an ingenious array of optical illusions, Rex Whistler's reversible illustrations shift character entirely when the book is turned upside down, transforming a scowling old woman into a smirking man, or a stern soldier into a weeping girl. Paired with the witty, satirical verses of his brother, Laurence Whistler, this unique mid-century curiosity is designed to be read in both directions, celebrating the enduring charm, theatricality, and playful eccentricities of English surrealism.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Laurence Whistler & Rex Whistler

Book Publisher: John Lane The Bodley Head

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Art & Architecture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 32

Book Publication Year: 1946

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Rex Whistler

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.