79 101(LAWRENCE, T.E.) LONGUS. Daphnis and Chloe: A Most Sweet and Pleasant Pastoral Romance for Young Ladies. London, 1893. Quarto, contemporary full black crushed morocco gilt. $15,000 “This Book Was Bound By McLeish For Colonel T.E. Lawrence… It Was Given By Him To Me At All Souls College” An exceptional association copy: the finely printed and beautifully illustrated Vale Press Daphnis and Chloe—one of only 210 copies, with 36 charming woodcuts in the Italian style by Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon, with “T.E.L.”—likely in T.E. Lawrence’s hand—faintly penciled in the upper right corner of the front free endpaper and a note from recipient Charles Francis Bell describing the circumstances in which Lawrence presented this copy to him. Beautifully bound in full morocco-gilt by C. & C. McLeish. This classical Greek work is considered “the original, or earliest survivor” of the idyllic/pastoral romance (Hardin, Love in a Green Shade, 1). Bookplate of recipient Charles Francis Bell, with his handwritten note regarding Lawrence's presentation of the copy to him tipped to the front free endpaper: “This book was bound by McLeish for Colonel T.E. Lawrence whose initials in pencil in his own writing are in the top corner of the opposite endpaper. It was given by him to me at All Souls College, Oxford on November 16, 1920. C.F. Bell.” Bell (1871-1966) was curator of the Department of Fine Art in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, where he met Lawrence when the latter brought fragments of pottery in for identification. The two frequently discussed their shared enthusiasm for Medieval art and architecture. Although the brevity and faintness of the initials make them difficult to verify as Lawrence’s hand, it is consistent with Lawrence’s known practice of initialing his own books. Mild offsetting from woodcuts; offsetting from morocco turn-ins partially obscuring penciled initials, binding beautiful and fine. An excellent association copy, with distinguished provenance.
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