BETJEMAN, John. Letters. Volume One: 1926 to 1951. Volume Two: 1951 to 1984. Edited and introduced by Candida Lycett Green. Metheun. 1994-5.
8vo., 2 volumes, in original cloth with dust wrappers. Near fine copies.
First editions. Each volume with a signed autograph postcard from John Betjeman to Leonora Ison tipped in.
Leonora Ison collaborated with Betjeman on his series of articles Men and Buildings written for the Daily Telegraph, with Ison providing illustrations to accompany his text.
The first postcard shows a view of Chtsworth House. This postcard signed in full by Betjeman gives Ison the plan for the article Preserve or Destroy which appeared on September 9th 1963. "This time I'm writing about the quite false battle created by the fools like Reyner Banham and the Tories (but not mentionaing names) between Destructivists and Preservationists. I want a drawing to show how in the 15th Cent, a comparable time with today, they added Perp to earlier work and both went well together. eg? W Front of Peterborough with its little perp porch, or North of Canterbury with choir layout, or any other thing you like as an example."
The second postcard shows a view of a caravan park at St Hilary Camp in Polzeath. Again signed in full by Betjeman.discussing their collaboration on one of the articles, "Our letters crossed and your drawing and letter echo the sentiments of my article."
For the working relationship between Betjeman and Leonora Ison see Hillier The Bonus of Laughter (p.75-78).
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