Ghosts and Witches by J. Wentworth Day (B. T. Batsford, 1st edition 1954) illustrated by Michael Ayrton
Here are Ghosts and Witches
by J. Wentworth Day, illustrated by Michael Ayrton
B. T. Batsford Ltd, 1st edition 1954
A collection of ghost and witch stories.
A striking dustwrapper design and illustrated throughout with chapter head pieces and ten full pages by Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)†.
Hardback – publisher’s black cloth with title and rules in gilt to spine*, top edge of page-block tinted purple, in a dustwrapper. pp xi, [1], 172, including b/w illustrations. Size: 8.75 x 5.75 inches approx. (220mm x 146mm).
Dustwrapper worn and rubbed; wear and small losss to spine ends and corner tips; short tears and creasing to head of spine; some marks and staining, especially to top edge; spine sunned and darkened. Cloth a little rubbed and marked; light shelf wear to spine ends and corner tips; gilt a touch rubbed in places. Offsetting to endpapers, a previous owner’s inked rubber stamp to front free endpaper; pages a little age-toned and dusty but generally clean throughout; a production fault on four leaves (p61-68) of an eight leaves gathering which appears to be a misalignment of the pages when being stabbed prior to stitching, resulting in a line of holes along the gutter margin – see images below; spotting to edges of page-block, purple tinting to top edge rubbed and marked.
Nonetheless, remaining a reasonably nice copy – attractive in its dustwrapper.
[SOLD]
*Also appeared in a cheaper pressed paper ‘cloth’ binding, black with title and rules in orange to spine.
†ref. The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators by Alan Horne (Antique Collectors’ Club, 1994)
