ESCAPE WITH ME!: An Oriental Sketch-Book.

First edition, first printing. Inscribed association copy with the addition of a loosely laid in letter addressed to the author's long-standing partner, David Horner, from 'Secretarial Aunts: Specialists in all Literary Work' in Holborn. Original green cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in dustwrapper. Decorated endpapers. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. Minor pushing to spine tips. The moderately worn and rubbed dustwrapper is faded to the spine, with a number of closed tears and small areas of loss to edges, folds and corners (most notably an area of loss to the outer upper corner of the front panel, c. 3 cm x 2 cm). Not price-clipped (12s. 6d. net to the front flap).

Inscribed in black ink to the front free endpaper, "For / dear Miss Noble, / with affection / from the author / Osbert Sitwell / November 6 1939". Philip Ziegler, in his 1998 biography of Sitwell, notes that Miss Noble took over as housekeeper from Mrs Powell, the previous incumbent, around 1930. She clearly became something like a member of the family over the years until, in 1963 when, as Ziegler has it "she was now over eighty and could never remember what day it was and who, if anyone, was coming for lunch or dinner. [...] It was partly the impossibility of getting rid of this loved, loyal but embarrassingly inefficient retainer which convinced Osbert that it was time to leave Carlyle Square [for a flat in Kensington Church Street]". In addition to the inscription, loosely laid in to this copy is a typed letter (dated 2nd January, 1950) from June Henebery of 'Secretarial Aunts', addressed to David Horner, the author's long-term partner and lover at their Carlisle [sic] Square home, stating that "Sometime ago we received three books from you for an insertion to be made. This work is now completed, and we are awaiting your further instructions". In pencil, to the verso of the letter there are a number of pencilled calculations which appear to relate to the word-count of Chapter Four; there is also a small slip of blank paper with the titles of three of the book's chapters listed (including Chapter Four), with, at the bottom, the conclusion: "24,000 words or Less". The letter and calculations may refer to a planned revision of the work, which doesn't appear to have materialised. (In 1948, a 'new edition' had been issued in paper covers by Pan Books with a new introduction.) 'Escape With Me!' was published on 7 November 1939. 3000 copies were printed. (Philip Ziegler, 'Osbert Sitwell' [London: 1998]; Fifoot OA29).