The Britain of Brian Cook, Brian Cook Batsford — 1st Edition

£45.00

The Britain of Brian Cook, Brian Cook Batsford — 1st Edition

Name: The Britain of Brian Cook, Brian Cook Batsford — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4953
Price: 45.00 GBP
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Publication: London, B.T. Batsford Ltd, 1987

Formatting: 4to, pp. 144.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The original red publisher’s cloth is remarkably clean and vibrant, free from the typical fading or oxidisation often found on copies of this age. The gilt lettering along the spine remains bright and unrubbed. The binding is firmly tight and square, suggesting the book has been scarcely read, with all hinges perfectly sound. Internally, the pages are crisp, bright, and devoid of foxing, thumbing, or any discernible shelf-wear to the text-block edges. The pictorial dust jacket is equally impressive. Unfaded and preserving the vivid, striking colour palette of Cook’s iconic illustration, with only the most trivial whisper of rubbing to the extreme corners and spine tips. A superb, highly presentable copy.

Catalogue Note: First edition. A visual celebration of the iconic Batsford book covers, this volume features the work of Brian Cook Batsford, who, under his pseudonym Brian Cook, revolutionised 20th-century British book design. This retrospective stands as the definitive collection of his distinctively vibrant, modernist, yet unmistakably pastoral aesthetic that defined the "Face of Britain" series from the 1930s through the 1950s.

The book is profusely illustrated throughout, showcasing Cook’s brilliant and flat colour work which was made possible by his pioneering use of the Jean Berté watercolour printing process. The volume includes an engaging foreword by Sir Hugh Casson and a preface by Ian Logan, offering a compelling look at the construction of a romanticised English identity during the mid-20th century. While standard copies appear regularly on the secondary market, finding a true first printing of this heritage volume with such a crisp, well-preserved dust jacket is a notable benefit for collectors of classic British illustration and topography.

The Batsford books of the 1930s to the 1950s occupy a cherished space between reference work and decorative object. Their enduring appeal lies as much in their vibrant dust jackets, modernist in spirit yet pastoral in subject, as in the texts themselves. The Britain of Brian Cook explores the genius behind these iconic covers, presenting a lavishly illustrated journey through a vivid, optimistic, and distinctly mid-century vision of the British landscape. It is an essential volume for anyone captivated by vintage book design, British topography, and the golden age of illustration.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Brian Cook Batsford

Book Publisher: B.T. Batsford Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Art & Architecture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 144

Book Publication Year: 1987

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Brian Cook

Book Series: A Batsford Heritage

Country/region of manufacture: Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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.