Brideshead Revisited

Lot 110
28.09.2023 13:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 60 480
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1016510
Lot 110 | Brideshead Revisited
Estimate value
£ 25 000 – 35 000
Brideshead Revisited

Evelyn Waugh

WAUGH, Evelyn (1903-1966). Brideshead Revisited. The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder. London: Chapman & Hall Ltd., 1945 [1944].



A fine pre-publication 'proof', one of 50 copies privately printed for distribution to the author’s friends. Presentation copy, inscribed by Waugh to his close friend and wartime commander Robert Laycock: 'For Bob, Commander of the Faithful, from Evelyn'. During the Second World War lieutenant-colonel Robert Laycock formed the commando group ‘Layforce’ in which Waugh served during part of the war, and in the Battle of Crete Laycock and Waugh were together on the last ship out of Crete before it fell to the Germans. After the war they remained friends and Laycock became the model for Tommy Blackhouse in the Sword of Honour trilogy, and was the dedicatee of Officers and Gentlemen (see lot 114). These advance copies, which were not for sale, were sent out at Christmas 1944 to Waugh’s friends for their comments; as a result Waugh made notable changes to the novel, including re-writing the ending and a few name changes.



Octavo. (Some spotting to endpapers, minor stains to a few leaves, short split to upper hinge.) Original blue wrappers with printed labels on upper cover, title label printed in blue, limitation label printed in red, uncut (slight spotting to labels, minor chips to upper fore-edge of wrapper, spine slightly creased and a little sunned); housed in an early red crushed morocco-backed red cloth folding case. Provenance: Major-General Sir Robert Laycock, KCMG, CB, DSO, KStJ (1907-1968; inscription from the author, with Robert Laycock’s armorial bookplate in the book and slipcase).

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SW1Y 6QT London
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28.09.2023 – 28.09.2023
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