Lot 390
Chubb, Ralph Nicolas
Auction: 16 May 2008 at 12:00 BST
Description
The heavenly cupid or the true paradise of loves. Fair Oak, Hants: published by author, 1932-33, folio, one of 7 copies, illustrated by the author, title and frontispiece hand coloured, original half green morocco gilt with corduroy boards by G. Frewin, some slight rubbing to head and tail of backstrip
Footnote
Note: Reid A10b.
This is one of seven copies of Chubb's scarcest self-published works on the beauty of male youth. Thought to be Chubb's "most harmonious marriage of writing and drawing... with lilting calligraphy and simple luminous figures leaning into or arching over the texts. " (Smith, 2004)
This volume is made up of several parts, including "The book of loves" (pp.133-76), "Midway thro' life" (pp. 93-132), and the remaining philosophical prose section (pp. 1-92 and 177-88).l
Chubb insisted on corduroy, the stuff of country trousers, for the binding. It was not a success and was not repeated.