Third English and first published edition, first issue with the illustrations on pp. 304 and 305 incorrectly located in ‘Illustrations’. After Lawrence’s death in May 1935, the text of Seven Pillars was published in a trade edition by Jonathan Cape in July 1935 in tandem with a limited edition of 750 copies. Such was the book’s popularity that the first impression was quickly exhausted and second, third and fourth impressions were printed in the following month (August 1935). Although the print run of the trade edition was large, relatively few copies survive with the original dustwrapper, and fewer still in such fine condition as this copy, with all the quires unopened.

This copy was previously in the collection of the distinguished Lawrence scholar Jeremy Wilson, the editor of T.E. Lawrence’s Minorities (London, 1971), and the author of the National Portrait Gallery catalogue T.E. Lawrence: Lawrence of Arabia (London, 1988) and the authoritative biography Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T.E. Lawrence (London, 1989). Jeremy Wilson was also the co-founder, with his wife Nicole, of the Castle Hill Press, which has published scholarly editions of works by Lawrence and the definitive series of Lawrence’s letters. The Castle Hill Press’ first publication was Seven Pillars of Wisdom. A Triumph. The Complete 1922 Text. Edited by Jeremy Wilson (Fordingbridge, 1997), which was the first publication of the text of the ‘Oxford Edition’, and this was followed by further editions of the 1922 text and also a parallel text edition of the 1922 and 1926 texts.

O’Brien A042.