The Canticle of the Rose by Edith Sitwell, signed

The Canticle of the Rose: Poems 1917-1949

Edith Sitwell

The Vanguard Press, 1949

First American edition, first printing, author's presentation copy; publisher's black cloth, titles to spine gilt, rose device to spine in pink, with the dust jacket. A Very Good copy in the pink, pictorial dust jacket with almost unnoticeable bumps and tears. Dustjacket is Good but shows interior discoloration and browning on back cover. With the author's signed presentation inscription to the front free endpaper. Inscribed to "Goddard and Bridgette" aka Goddard Lieberson and Vera Zorina. Insert "An Inscribed Book from the Lieberson Library" describes their careers. Sitwell was six feet tall and pushed early 20th century fashion to the limit—her jewelry is in the V&A Museum. A singular character whose poetry, collected here, is precise.