Blow for Balloons by W.J. TURNER (Dust jacket by Edward Bawden)
TURNER, W.J. Blow for Balloons: being the first hemisphere of the history of Henry Airbubble. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1935.
First edition. Dust jacket by Edward Bawden (1903-1989), English painter, illustrator, and designer, known for his prints, book covers, posters, murals and garden metalwork furniture. Bawden’s work is often associated with that of his friend, colleague and collaborator, Eric Ravilious.
The author of this book, Walter J. Turner (1889-1946) was an Australian-born poet, writer and music critic established in Britain. He forged important literary friendships with W.B. Yeats, Siegfried Sassoon and Lady Ottoline Morrell. This book is Turner’s first novel and the first of the Henry Airbubble series. Blow for Balloons tells the story of the balloon manufacturer Blow & Blow, and its founder, Henry Airbubble, who in 1850 sails out to China to set up a branch of his balloon business. The droll dust jacket depicts the moment Henry Airbubble and his guest of honour, the Chinese governor take off for a demonstration flight in an atmosphere of general excitement from the Chinese public, and Henry's wife, Mathilda.
298 pp. 8vo, original cloth, top edge of front board bumped. Very good in good dust jacket (some wear, with small loss to spine ends and top corner; spine faded with old stain at foot; tear to front face; slightly foxed; not price-clipped). Inside front flap overprinted 'First Cheap Edition' with a sticker 4/- Net.