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SPENCER,CHARLES**: : ALTHORP: THE STORY OF AN ENGLISH HOUSE.[Author SIGNED copy.]

LONDON.VIKING/PENGUIN BOOKS LTD.,1998.

ISBN No ISBN.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn thus.[Though the true 1st edn was originally published in the UK by VIKING,1998,this particular edn/issue has no credited /listed publisher,and no ISBN and is the author's first reissue,2001edition,so a 1st thus? Believed to be reissued and sold exclusively through or at Althorp House,where the author signed bought copes, when he was in residence - see included provenance. With this book,is included is a NFINE landscape 8vo wraps,glossy,colour illustrated+photographic ALTHORP HOUSE guidebook.It contains a short history of the Spencer family and guide to the rooms in the house, and it also contains a tribute to Princess Diana. Also included,laid in loose,a coloured Althorp Gift Collection postcard illustrating related items/ souvenirs that can be bought either at the house or online @ w3 althorp dotcom.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn,but author's neat,blue ink dedication, signature and date: 'To Ross and Gemma Charles Spencer 14th August,2001' to title-page,no price-clip to dw/dj.A loose,glossy,colour illustrated card (with detail of Monet's' Water Lily Pond' scene/ painting) between pp166/7,with the following handwritten,blue ink text inside: 'Dear Ross & Gemma, I went to see Diana's Commemorative collection at her family home at Althorp yesterday,also saw island where she is buried ect.Went into the shop and Charles Diana's brother was there signing books and I thought of you - hope you like.I had a wonderful time in Paris!!! Love to you all Nan.x x x x.' Bright, crisp,clean,glossy laminated,scenic colour photographic illustrated dw/dj with white+gilt lettering to upper panel+spine/backstrip; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners - no major nicks or tears present.Corners and both head+foot of dw/dj minisculely bumped with reciprocal creasing; a tiny,tiny nick/closed tear to front,lower right-hand corner and the majority of negligible creasing is to top+bottom,rear edges of dw/dj.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners - possibly unread? Bright,crisp,clean, generally sharp-cornered,publisher's original,plain dark green cloth bds with bright,crisp,stamped gilt letters to spine/backstrip,yellow+gold striped headband and immaculate plain pale grey eps.UK,8vo HB +dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn thus,1-167pp [paginated] includes 24 distinct,though not numbered,chapters/ sections,profuse contemporary b/w+colour illustrations and contemporary b/w+colour photographs also,interspersed throughout the text and the book. Plus [unpaginated] a black ink printed capital S (denoting SPENCER?) - no other text - to foot of half-title page,author's dedication and signature+ date SIGNED title-page illustrated with family's coat of arms colour vignette below the book's title,a familial dedication (to his Grandfather),2 genealogical family trees: owners of Althorp [1500's to 1783] and [1765 to date] and b/w ground and first-floor plans of Althorp. The great house and grounds of Althorp in Northamptonshire have been home to the Spencer family for nearly 500 years.They first leased farm land in the area for grazing in 1486,and in 1508 Sir John Spencer acquired the 300-acre estate on which he built the first house.Since then,Spencers have lived and died at Althorp for twenty generations,and the Park has now taken on an added significance as the burial place of the most loved princess of the 20thC. Charles Spencer,who became the ninth Earl in 1992, has a deep love and knowledge of the house,reflected in the fact that he acted as a guide there when he was just twelve years old and in the tremendous redecorative work he has undertaken in recent years to restore it to its former glories.In 1998 there was further major work with the adapting of the quite beautiful Stable Block - once home to 100 horses and forty grooms - into a centre for visitors incorporating an exhibition celebrating the life of Diana. Earl Spencer has written a fascinating account of the house that combines the details of art and architecture (Althorp has one of the greatest private art collections in the country,including paintings by Van Dyck,Rubens,Reynolds,Stubbs and Gainsborough) with a personal appreciation of all its qualities.He also provides a first-hand description of the many changes that have occurred in recent years.With splendid photography,some of it from Althorp's archives and some of it specially commissioned,this new book offers the perfect guide to one of England's greatest houses. An unusual,uncommon SIGNED copy,with interesting provenance and related Althorp ephemera included. Since April,2013,the UK Post Office has increased it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering its weight allowances,dimensions and lowered its qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact seller,because of the value of this item,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn thus.
'To Ross and Gemma Charles Spencer 14th August,2001'.

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