WITH AN AUTOGRAPH POSTCARD
Peter Duck
Cape, 1932.
First edition. Original green cloth with gilt lettering in pictorial Clifford Webb dustwrapper. Laid in is an autograph postcard with a printed border of Ransome's illustrations. It is postmarked from 1945 and is written by Ransome to Brian Field-Hyde, a keen young sailor and reader of Ransome's, saying "I am glad you liked them. And thank you for NOT asking questions. Best wishes for fair weather! Arthur Ransome". Pictorial endpapers and many black and white drawings. A fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper, which just shows light tanning to the spine, a couple of short closed tears to the edges, and minor abrasion to the lower panel, but nonetheless is an uncommonly bright and crisp example.
The third in the series of Swallows and Amazons.
The recipient of the postcard was at this point a twelve year old student at Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton, and a keen sailor who later joined the committee of Penarth Yacht Club. He had evidently written to Ransome to share his enjoyment of the Swallows and Amazons books and his love of sailing, and had been wise enough to leave his correspondence at that.
Stock ID: 37420
£5,500.00
