[Literature] (Lawrence, T.E.) Two Leaves From the Oxford Edition of "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"

(Oxford: privately printed by the Oxford Times for the author, 1922). Comprising two printed leaves (two columns, rectos only), extracted from one of only eight printed copies of this edition. Manuscript in margin of first leaf, "Chap XXI Complete" (but Chapter XXII). Creased along center from old fold; light spotting. O'Brien A034

Two leaves from one of only eight copies ever printed of the Oxford Edition of T.E. Lawrence's monumental The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Lawrence's first manuscript for The Seven Pillars was lost in Reading Terminal in late 1919. The second manuscript was then completed in London in a period of three months between 1919-20 (this was burned by him in 1922 in Chingford, London). The third manuscript (based on the second), was written in London, Jeddah, and Amman between 1921-22. The final text of this latter manuscript was then printed on the presses of the Oxford Times--both in order to protect against loss of the manuscript, and to provide copies for members of the Hejaz Expeditionary force as well as literary friends to read and criticize (the latter included G.B. Shaw, E.M. Forster, Thomas Hardy, and Siegfried Sassoon). Of the eight copies that were printed, one was destroyed, four are now in institutional collections, and one was disbound into individual leaves (including those here).

These two leaves contain the text of chapter XXII, which corresponds to chapter XXI (pp. 105-110) of the Subscriber's edition, but with many textual differences. Rare.

Provenance

From the Collection of Jay R. Butterman. New York, New York

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Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] (Lawrence, T.E.) Two Leaves From the Oxford Edition of "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"

Books and Manuscripts

[Literature] (Lawrence, T.E.) Two Leaves From the Oxford Edition of "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"

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