Mitford, Nancy (1945 & 1949) ‘The Pursuit of Love’ & ‘Love in a Cold Climate’, first edition set with an original handwritten and signed letter

Nancy Mitford, ‘The Pursuit of Love‘ (1945) and ‘Love in a Cold Climate‘ (1949), both first editions, first printings published by Hamish Hamilton. The volumes have been rebound luxuriously in full fine leather. In addition, an original handwritten and signed letter by Nancy Mitford.

Condition of the books: fine with no signs of wear. Internally clean without any previous owner’s scribbles, no bookplates, no stamps. Usual toning to paper of The Pursuit of Love due to the war economy standard paper which was used at the time of publication. The books have been rebound by George Baytun and Riviere in Bath – one of the oldest (establishe din 1829) and most reputable bindery in the UK. Only the best quality fine leather has been used for this binding. The page blosk edges are gilded on all sides, marbled endpapers have been inserted; the spines have five raised bands; and in between the titles, author, and publicattion dates are stamped in gild.

The letter: three pages on two sheets, dated 21 October 1967 with Miford’s address at 4 rue d’Artios, 78 Versailles (Mitfor moved there in January 1967):

‘Dear Mr Pearce. The stupidity of publishers really beats all! They ought to bring out your book with pictures as a jolly & original Christmas present – I know many people who would love it’. […] Mitford goes on to say ‘they know the English are mad’. She refers to her essay on Frederick the Great. Later Mitford resumes with an anecdote of a Russian writer who spend his time rushing to publishers and as a result did not write anything. She invites Pearce to Paris and closes the letter with ‘Yours sincerely Nancy Mitford’. In the postscript she recommends Pearce to send his book to Alan Ross who inspired her seminal book Noblesse Oblige with the linguistic distinction of Upper and Non-Upper Class Speech. She then also recommends a Mr Buchanan at a bookshop in London for the publication of a limited edition of his book.

A fascinating letter with interesting anaecdotes and references to Mitford’s own work.