Waugh (Evelyn) Wine in Peace and War, number 19 of 100 copies signed by the author, 2 colour illustrations by Rex Whistler, original claret sheep lettered in gilt with gilt design after Whistler to upper cover, usual fading to spine and light rubbing to extremities, but overall an excellent copy and better than usually found, preserved in custom slip-case, 8vo, Saccone & Speed Ltd., [1947].

⁂ Waugh was commissioned to write a piece on wine by H.H. Prince Vsevolode of Russia (the dedicatee of the work) to promote the wine merchant Saccone & Speed, of which Vsevolode was then managing director. Coming so soon after the success of Brideshead and the increased revenues this brought (see lot 44), Waugh knew that any income was now likely to be taxed at 80%. He therefore arranged to be paid at the rate of 12 bottles of champagne per 1,000 words. The sheep binding used for this work is easily scuffed and chipped, it is therefore unusual to find copies in as good condition as this volume.