Description
Signed first edition of The Prince of Wales’ Presidential Address to The British Association for the Advancement of Science, given August 4th, 1926.
Octavo, 30pp. Full blue morocco, title in gilt and gilt embellishments on cover. Gilt turn-ins. Printed by Samuel Straker & Sons, 1926. Solid text block, some rubbing to spine and corners, bow to front cover, touch of toning to endpapers. Dampstain along bottom corner of boards and endpapers, not impacting text. Includes a signed letter typed on St. James Place stationery from Edward’s private secretary, Alan Lascelles, gifting the copy to F.E. Smith. Faint toning to edges of letter. Signed “Edward P” on title page.
Edward VIII (1894-1972) was created Prince of Wales on June 23, 1910; his sixteenth birthday. He served in World War I as a member of the Grenadier Guards, and represented his father, King George V, on various local and international royal visits during his time as Prince. Alan “Tommy” Lascelles (1887-1981) started his career for the royals as Assistant Private Secretary to Edward in 1920. Lascelles left the position in 1929, claiming to have differences with the Prince of Wales. He returned to the role of Assistant Private Secretary in 1935, this time to George V, and later became Private Secretary to both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II as each ascended the throne.
