133. Craig Edward Gordon: A Production. Being Thirty-Two Collotype Plates of Designs Projected or Realised for "The Pretenders" of Henrik Ibsen and Produced at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, 1926 Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1930 red cloth, gold embossing, first edition, elephant folio. Thirty-two Collotype Plates of Designs Projected or Realised for "The Pretenders" of Henrik Ibsen and Produced at the Royal Theatre Copenhagen, 1926. By Edward Gordon Craig. dedicated to His Majesty Christian X King of Denmark. Printed at the University press, Oxford by John Johnson 1930 - only 605 copies published. Craig tells the story of his travels in Denmark, the work on the sets and costumes and the rehearsals and production. Watercolour, chalk and gouache drawings are carefully reproduced in facsimile with plate guards. Fine condition, binding is tight and pages and plates are in good condition. A large book, 20.25in x 15.5in (513mm x 388mm). We also have a slightly worncopy available priced at £300. Stock ref 1752. £450.00
134. Craig, Edward Gordon: Scene London:1923 large quarto, original boards, very good copy, 19 lovely plates and 27 pages of text, introductory poem by John Masefield, inscribed "To Victor from EC, 11/1965" - a personal inscription from Edward Craig to Victor Glasstone. Stock ref 4256. £150.00
135. Davis, Walter: Improvements in and relating to Picture and like Frames London: 1910, No.12685 British Patent 3pp of text and one page of line drawings,Very good condition. Produced by Walter Davis, stage manager at the Empire Theatre, Nottingham Stock ref 10000. £20.00
136. Degani, Mario: Mostra Delgi Scengrafi Reggiani dal XVII al XX Secolo Reggio Emilia:1957 red calf spine, red cloth boards, very good condition, gazetteer of scenographers listing their work and reproducing many examples in fine plates at the rear of the book. Stock ref 2094. £42.00
137. Diderot, D'Alembert: Theatre Architecture & Stage Machines Paris 1772 original copy of the famous work covering both theatre architecture and stage machines. Green cloth. This is one of the most important works on theatre design and now extremely rare with both sections on theatre architecture and stage machinery. Stock ref 2344. £700.00

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to say seven hundred pounds? Pfft! Peanuts, let’s have it. Actually I hadn’t meant to copy 136 or 137 but only the Gordon Craig but, having included them, I might as well leave them for interest’s sake. The reason for the Craig is because I am having a truly tough time trying to wade through his biography. What is it that makes it so dull? Into his twenties he had already done a whole heap of living and I am on to his third big love affair and there are more to come, each one a true love until he lost interest or went a philandering. There is no doubt he was a weird creature – does this come with genius or as Arthur Miller might have said with the territory?
This time last week I wouldn’t have believed I had another full length play inside me but finished it yesterday – five days! – eat your heart out Noel.