Beschreibung:

LAWRENCE, T.E. Autograph note signed with initials as T.E. Shaw 'Sorry: this thing is being given only to my friends and their friends. No copies are for sale. T.E.S. 24.IV.25' in red ink at the foot of: HENRY SOTHERAN & CO. Autograph letter signed by an employee, 43 Piccadilly, London, 14 April 1925, 2 pages on a bifolium, 8°, Lawrence's name and address amended by Lawrence in red ink (lightly marked). Provenance : Houle Rare Books and Autographs, Los Angeles. LAWRENCE'S REJECTION OF A BOOKSELLER'S REQUEST TO ACQUIRE COPIES OF THE SUBSCRIBERS' EDITION OF SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM -- 'NO COPIES ARE FOR SALE'. In the spring of 1925 Lawrence was finalising the contract for an abridgement of Seven Pillars of Wisdom to be published by Jonathan Cape, which presumably prompted press reports about both the abridged and the subscribers' editions of the work, and caused the booksellers Henry Sotheran to write to Lawrence asking for 'particulars of your forthcoming book, which we have observed in the press, will be privately issued', further inquiring 'if you will allow the trade any discount for copies, which may be ordered'. Lawrence has struck through his name and address as written by Sotheran ('Lieut Colonel T.E. Lawrence , 2 Polstead Road , Oxford') -- with the exception of the two initials 'T.E.' -- and inserted the name 'Shaw' and the address 'Clouds Hill , Moreton , Dorset' in their places, before tersely answering at the foot of the letter that copies are only available to 'my friends and their friend. No copies are for sale'.