Twenty-Four Portraits: Second Series, William Rothenstein — 1st Edition

£30.00

Twenty-Four Portraits: Second Series, William Rothenstein — 1st Edition

Name: Twenty-Four Portraits: Second Series, William Rothenstein — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5980
Price: 30.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Chatto & Windus, 1923

Formatting: 8vo, unpaginated.

Condition Report: Very Good in a Poor dust jacket. The quarter cloth binding and grey paper boards remain remarkably square, tightly bound, and clean, with only minor bumping to the extremities and slight shelf wear along the lower edges. The original printed paper spine label is intact and entirely legible, albeit lightly toned. Internally, the book is crisp and largely free of foxing, though the endpapers and page edges present with standard, age-appropriate tanning. The original dust jacket has not fared as well; it is significantly compromised, showing extensive tearing and large segments of loss across the top edge of both the front and rear panels, as well as the head of the spine. The jacket is also heavily tanned and foxed, with further chipping to its lower edges and general fraying, though it has successfully protected the volume beneath for over a century.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, limited to 1,500 copies for sale in Great Britain and the U.S.A..

This second series follows Rothenstein's highly successful initial 1920 publication of portraits. The book features twenty-four striking lithographic portraits of leading contemporary figures in the arts and literature, including Edward Gordon Craig and Sir Edwin Lutyens, each accompanied by a critical appreciation from 'various hands'. The portraits are beautifully reproduced, alternating between sanguine and dark grey inks, capturing the sitters with Rothenstein’s characteristic psychological acuity.

A printed dedication on the copyright page acknowledges the artist's close friendship with Francis Darwin, Francis Cornford, and Frances Cornford. While the book itself surfaces with some regularity on the secondary market, finding a copy that retains its original, fragile dust jacket, even in a highly defective state, is an uncommon occurrence, making this a noteworthy survival for collectors of early twentieth-century British portraiture.

Following the acclaim of his first volume, distinguished English artist William Rothenstein returns with a second series of intimate, expertly observed portraits capturing the luminaries of the 1920s British cultural scene. Paired with anonymous critical appreciations, these lithographic studies offer a compelling visual and literary time capsule of the era's leading writers, actors, musicians, and thinkers, cementing Rothenstein’s reputation as one of the preeminent portraitists of his generation.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: William Rothenstein

Book Publisher: Chatto & Windus

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Art & Architecture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1923

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: William Rothenstein

Book Series: Twenty-Four Portraits

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.