[LAWRENCE, T.E (1888-1935.)] – HOMER. The Odyssey. [Translated by T.E. Lawrence]. London: Emery Walker, Wilfred Merton and Bruce Rogers, 1932.

Limited to 530 copies and signed by printer Bruce Rogers. “Here at last was a man who could make Homer live again”, American book-designer Bruce Rogers wrote of T.E. Lawrence. (Letters of T.E. Lawrence, ed. Brown, p. 632n) At the age of 40 and at the behest of Rogers. Lawrence began to translate Homer’s Odyssey during the ample spare time he found on his final RAF postings, from Karachi in 1928 to Plymouth in 1931. “[I]t goes with me, always, to every camp, for I love it,” he writes of the Odyssey early in 1928, noting as well that the publication must “go out blank” (ie, anonymously), noting his hope “never again to be the victim of the press.” Lawrence increasingly sought to hide from the public gaze as his activities in the Middle East became more widely known, and it was at this time that Lawrence legally changed his name to “Shaw”. This stately privately-printed first edition is the only one to honor Lawrence’s request and his name features neither on nor within the book, whereas subsequent trade editions from 1932 to the present day name Lawrence as the translator. (The Letters of T.E. Lawrence, ed. Brown, pp. 362–363). Clements, pp. 41–42; Duval 25; O’Brien A141.

Folio (291 x 202mm). 26 wood-engraved roundels printed in black over gold leaf appearing on title-page and as headpieces. (occasional light roundel offsetting). Original crushed black morocco, gilt lettering to spine, top edge gilt (some tiny scuffs visible in raking light). Original chemise and quarter black crushed morocco slip-case (minor wear to chemise and slipcase).

The quarter black morocco slipcase is contemporary, not original to the book.