Westward Ho!

London: Macmillan and Co , 1899 . Leather. Very Good. 7.5" by 5.5". None. Charles Kingsley's exciting work of historical adventure fiction, in a charming full calf school prize binding. A smart edition of Charles Kingsley's famous historical novel, in a full calf signed school prize binding from Relfe Brothers of London.First published in 1855, this exciting tale of adventure is based on the experiences of Elizabethan privateer Amyas Preston, who encounters privateers including Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh on his adventures.Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece of the author.With a prize bookplate from Newport Grammar School to the front pastedown, awarding this work to H. Bunting for winning the historical novel prize, Easter 1902.From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty of the Edwardian period. Impeccably connected, Pleydell-Bouverie was also the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, and rumoured to be a lover of King Edward VIII. A sparkling figure of fashionable society, her friends included Nancy Mitford, Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, and Fred Astaire. This work is from the sale of Pleydell-Bouverie"s library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. She purchased the home in 1940, redesigning the interior and amassing an impressive library, featuring many examples of her own bookbinding. In a full calf signed school prize binding, with gilt detailing. Light fading to back strip, with small loss of leather to tail of front joint. Light marks to boards. Prize bookplate to front pastedown. Binder's stamp to verso of front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. The odd spot or handling mark throughout. Very Good