[LAWRENCE, T. E.]. Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a Triumph. London: Jonathan Cape, 1935.
FIRST TRADE EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. Leather-bound; hardcover; thick quarto (25.5cm x 19.5cm x 5.5cm); pp. 672. English text with illustrations throughout. Stunningly bound in crushed brown morocco by Bayntun-Riviere, panels ruled in gilt, gilt spine in 6 compartments, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, 3 facsimile examples of text or manuscript, 54 illustrations including portrait bust frontispiece, many charcoal drawn plates and in-text line drawings, 4 fold-out maps, appendices, indexes of place names and personal names. Condition: FINE.
Notes: An excellent example of T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, in a wonderful binding by Bayntun-Riviere. Following his extraordinary military and diplomatic career in Arabia, and having already become a legendary figure in the public imagination, T.E. Lawrence purchased his Dorset cottage retreat Clouds Hill in 1924 to write his book about the war. The first draft of Seven Pillars was completed by November 1919, but was soon lost, according to the author, at Reading Station. A second draft was finished during 1922, and finally appeared as a private edition, reflecting Lawrence's love of fine printing, in 1926. 'Subtitled "A triumph", its climax is the Arab liberation of Damascus, a victory which successfully concludes a gruelling campaign and vindicates Lawrence's faith in the Arabs. In a way Seven Pillars is a sort of Pilgrim's Progress, with Lawrence, sustained by his faith in the Arabs, successively overcoming physical and moral obstacles' (ODNB). O'Brien A042.
