POWELL (ANTHONY) [A Dance to the Music of Time], 12 vol., FIRST EDITIONS, ONE A PRESENTATION COP...

POWELL (ANTHONY) [A Dance to the Music of Time], 12 vol., FIRST EDITIONS, ONE A PRESENTATION COPY SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on the title-page, with 2 AUTOGRAPH LETTERS, 3 TYPED LETTERS AND ONE POSTCARD, ALL SIGNED BY POWELL loosely inserted, publisher's cloth, dulled, dust-jackets (all age-toned/smoked with slight rubbing at spine ends, 'Question' with loss to spine at foot, old tape repair and inside upper flap; 'Buyer's' spine detached with losses, flaps detached and all edges frayed; 'Acceptance' with loss to lower third of spine, short tear to upper cover and loss of section of lower cover with loss of some letters), 8vo, Heinemann, 1951-1975; together with a dust-jacketed copy of Hilary Spurling's Handbook to Anthony Powell's Music of Time, 1977 (13) Footnotes: 'I AM DELIGHTED THAT LADY MOLLY'S AMUSED YOU - I AM NOW IN MY USUAL AWFUL THROES OF THE NEXT ONE...' - A complete set of A Dance to the Music of Time, 'the twelve-volume novel on which his [Powell's] reputation rests' (ODNB), one volume inscribed and with six letters. Provenance: John Barrow, who worked in the intelligence corps as a military liaison officer alongside Powell during the Second World War. The Acceptance World is inscribed 'For John Barrow on the auspicious occasion of at the annual dinner of the military intelligence... from Anthony Powell, 7th May 1955'. In the earliest letter, dated 5 February 1958, Powell responds to Barrow's enjoyment of 'Lady Molly's', and mentions his working on the next book. In a letter of 10 October 1966 Powell is pleased that Barrow enjoyed his latest book (probably The Soldier's Art) stating 'It is always a pleasure when it appeals to someone who knows the material first hand', and mentions that he had been working on a play but 'the management has just gone up the spout...', and a plan to visit India having failed to go the previous year 'owing to their war'. In 1967 Powell sends money for his share of wine for 'an enjoyable party [?military intelligence reunion] tho' I can't say I didn't feel a sense of loss thinking of the old days...'. In the final letter, dated 11 November 1977, Powell expresses in detail his admiration for Hilary Spurling's Handbook 'which I think is splendidly done... it is a great relief to have had the job done by someone who really grasps the point', and mentions the derivation of the names of the characters Quiggin and Pugsley. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing