John Betjeman — First and Last Loves

London, John Murray, 1952 . First edition. Cloth. The first edition of John Betjeman's collection of essays surrounding English architecture, with the original, unclipped dust wrapper. The first edition, first impression. With the original, unclipped dust wrapper. Comprised of a collection of essays written by author and Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, who was known as a passionate defender of Victorian architecture, helping to save St. Pancras railway station from demolition. This work contains his essays on architecture, including essays on Victorian architecture, London railway stations, coastal architecture, and architecture in Cheltenham, Bournemouth, Leeds and more. Illustrated with a folding plate and numerous illustrations by the notable war artist John Piper. Bound in the publisher's original cloth, with the original, unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, lovely, with light shelf wear. Light spotting to the endpapers and fore edge. Dust wrapper is slightly worn, with chipping and some loss to the extremities and spine. Vertical tears along joints, more significant to the front with a horizontal tear to the center. Slight rubbing to the joints and sunning to the spine. Light spotting to the wrap, heavier to flyleaves and the reverse. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Good Only.