The Arabs Signed Presentation Copy by Edward Bawden / R.B. Serjeant 1st 1947

First edition Published by Penguin books Ltd in 1947. A Puffin picture book in hardback in card boards without a dust wrapper as issued. This is a very good copy with marks to the upper and lower boards and wear / rubbing to the extremities. There is a staple mark (but no staple) to the right hand side of the front free end paper, presumably where the letter from Edward Bawden was originally stapled to the book. A very good copy overall.
 
This copy is very rare as it has been signed by Edward Bawden at the top of the front free end paper. He has signed "to Cecil Keeling from Edward Bawden". Loosely enclosed in the book is also a letter written by Bawden to Keeling. At the top of the letter is Bawden's address and it is dated in the year of publication of the book. Bawden says in the letter that he has gifted the book to Keeling but it is a poor return for Keelings book that he sent to him, earlier in the year. Cecil Keeling was also an illustrator and in the same year, he illustrated and published a book called 'Pictures of Persia'. A rare presentation copy from Edward Bawden to fellow illustrator Cecil Keeling with an associated letter between the two.