New Bats in Old Belfries. Poems. BETJEMAN, John.

First edition, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Hugh from Propeller & John Christmas MCMXLV", using his affectionate nickname for his wife Penelope. The collection was a great success, with the first impression nearly sold out within a month. It was reprinted in 1946, and soon out of print again by the end of 1947. The recipient is unknown. Peterson A13a. Bevis Hillier, John Betjeman: The Biography, 2006. Octavo. Original red cloth, printed paper label to front cover. With dust jacket. Spine ends and corners rubbed and a little bumped, ring mark to front cover and corresponding mark to dust jacket, endpapers cockled towards inner hinges, short creased tear to half-title, small stain at upper edge of same and title page, contents clean; unclipped jacket soiled, spine browned, loss to head and foot of spine: a very good copy.