Cautionary Verses

London: Duckworth, 1940. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 9" by 7". B. T. B; Nicolas Bentley. The first illustrated album edition of Cautionary Verses, containing seven works by Hilaire Belloc. The first illustrated album edition of this work in the publisher's original cloth binding, with pictorial gilt to the front board. Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953) was a Franco-English writer and historian. His most successful work was his 'Cautionary Tales for Children'. This illustrated album edition, now uncommon, contains seven works by Hilaire Belloc in comic verse: 'Cautionary Tales for Children'; 'New Cautionary Tales'; 'The Bad Child's Book of Beasts'; 'More Beasts for Worse Children'; 'More Peers'; 'A Moral Alphabet' and 'Ladies and Gentlemen'. The second and last work are illustrated by Nicholas Bentley. The rest are illustrated by B. T. B. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally sound, though faded with shelf wear to the joints and extremities. Mark to the front board. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean except for the odd spot to the fore edge and to the first and last couple of pages. Lacking front free end paper. Repair to a tear to page 45 of Cautionary Tales for Children, not affecting the text. Occasional pencil markings. Very Good