Books

First edition, edition de luxe, being number 75 of 125 copies signed by Betjeman. 8vo. In the original publisher's green morocco with elaborate decoration of bells embossed in gilt. Top edge gilt. In the original glassine, and housed in a slipcase. A fine copy. Patterned endpapers, engraved frontispiece, chapter headings by Michael tree and various black and white photographs. Despite 125 copies being printed, Jock Murray revealed in a letter to Edmund Penning-Rowsell "John's limited edition has been over-subscribed over four times. In any case the tea trolley at the printer's works in Beccles crashed over the whole edition and has ruined them all. I hope to retrieve a few tannic copies which will doubtless be of high bibliographical value in a few years time" (quoted in Peterson). Peterson A29b.

This autobiographical poem covers Betjeman's early life, detailing aspects of English life and culture from a personal perspective.