Modern Design in Embroidery by Rebecca Crompton (Batsford, re-issue 1950) with dustwrapper
Modern Design in Embroidery
by Rebecca Crompton, edited by Davide C. Minter
B. T. Batsford Ltd, [stated as] 1st edition October 1936 [re-issue 1950]†
Detailed study and a standard work by the innovative embroidery designer Rebecca Crompton (1895-1947)*. Well illustrated throughout the text, plus a colour frontispiece and fifty-one plates (48 b/w and 3 colour).
[Dustwrapper art by Rebecca Crompton].
Hardback – publisher’s cloth with title in black to spine, black rules and reference number to front board, in a dustwrapper. HMSO ‘WITHDRAWN’ rubber stamp to title page verso. pp viii, 72, including b/w illustrations plus b/w and colour plates. 9.5 x 6.25 inches approx. (245mm x 158mm).
This title appears to have had an interesting publishing history. Originally published in October 1936 by B. T. Batsford (see here), it had a special edition (sans dustwrapper?) produced during the Second World War by HMSO for His Majesty’s Forces. This special edition appears to be a facsimile reprint (even including the 1st edition statement) on a cheaper, albeit still good quality, paper stock and with a more utilitarian cloth binding. Not quite as tall as the original, and much thinner not having the usual art paper stock that Batsford used. The remaining copies of this HMSO edition were subsequently re-issued by Batsford with an accompanying dustwrapper around 1950 (‘Samplers and Stitches’ advertised on rear panel, fifth edition 1950).
As far as I’m aware no other editions were published.
From the dustwrapper blurb: “A special edition of [this] work was printed during the war years for the exclusive use of members of the Forces, and it is the remainder of this edition that the publishers are now able to put on the market at a reduced price. […] The publishers are confident that embroiderers will welcome this re-issue of a book which has for too long been out of print”.
Dustwrapper rubbed and worn, with small loss; several short edge tears; somewhat dusty and grubby, especially to spine; signs of tape repairs to verso (tape now removed). Light wear to spine ends and board corner tips, otherwise cloth clean and bright. Age tanning to pages and some dustiness but generally clean throughout; edges of page-block spotted and dusty.
Overall, remaining a reasonably nice, clean copy in a somewhat worn dustwrapper – uncommon.
£75.00
†ref. British Library
*ref. British Council Visual Arts and A History of English Embroidery
