VERY GOOD CONDITION

This sale is for a vintage hardback FIRST EDITION entitled “Bledgrave Hall,” by J. K. Stanford (1892-1971), with numerous illustrations by A. M. Hughes and endpaper plans of Bledgrave Marshes.

It was published by Faber and Faber Ltd., of London, in MCML and is the 1950 FIRST EDITION (stated).

This book contains a lively account of the more recent history of the fictional Bledgrave Hall and the successful hatching and breeding there of a small colony of avocets.  The work was based on the author’s experience of Avocets breeding in Suffolk.

For the purpose of the story (for ‘concealment for security reasons’ against egg collectors) he used a fictional place in Norfolk in 1946.  In the postscript he provides factual information on why the location was no longer a secret due to an article in The Times on Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sponsorship of Avocet breeding in East Anglia.

The birds had been extinct in Britain for a long time because of land reclamation of their habitat and persecution by skin and egg collectors. The reclaimed land near the Wash was returned to salt marsh to make difficulties for any landing German invaders.

At the end of the author’s fictionalised account set in 1947 the hero in the book allows an egg collector to flee, into an uncleared minefield on the marsh with fatal results!

The book measures 8.75 inches x 6.25 inches and has 75 pages, which are hand-cut to the bottom rims. 

The book is in very good condition for its age, neat and clean, with wear and tears to the edge of the original dust-jacket (not price-clipped).  There are NO inscriptions/book-plates and NO other ink or pencil markings in the book.  The binding is very good with no loose or missing pages.

A wonderfully illustrated vintage FIRST EDITION.

COMBINED POSTAGE - ALL BIDDERS: We offer 20% off the total postage & packing/‘shipping’ for additional items after the cost of the heaviest book – please wait for a combined invoice.

Please click on “View Sellers Other Items” towards the top right hand side of this page for other vintage editions. 

Buyer to pay postage & packing

For UK Postage: 2nd Class/Parcels = £2.95;

or 1st Class = £3.90

European Union Postage: = 6.95 GB Pounds

USA Postage: Air Mail (USA) = 13.45 GB Pounds

Rest of the World Postage: Air Mail (Anywhere else in the World) = 10.70 GB Pounds

Surface Mail (Anywhere in the World) = 13.20 GB Pounds

Unwinsbooks have held down shipping prices from 2013-2020 in spite of small increases in postage costs.  However, Royal Mail Prices dramatically changed on 1 July 2020, as a result of exceptional cost increases outside of their control, so we are reluctantly having to pass on pricing increases for parcels being sent overseas (primarily USA, New Zealand, Australia and the Rest of the World). 

These costs are a direct result of: 

• An increase of more than 100% in the fees the US Postal Service (USPS) charges for the delivery of international mail.

• Securing air freight at inflated market costs due to a 95% reduction in air passenger flights globally. This has not affected domestic or postage within the EU.

“Royal Mail, always aim to deliver the best value international services. We fully recognise that these changes are significant. This was a decision we reluctantly took but is necessary in view of the increased costs borne by Royal Mail.”

If the Royal Mail reduce their charges in the future (in particular what they term “Temporary Air Carrier Supplement Pricing”) unwinsbooks will reduce the international costs accordingly.

Unwinsbooks always obtain a proof of postage receipt from the Royal Mail.  Packages over Royal Mail size rules may be sent by courier (customer will be informed).

Goods will be WELL PACKAGED by Unwins Books and dispatched once payment has cleared.

PAYMENT FOR UK BIDDERS: By Paypal, UK cheque, or postal order. 

POSTAGE UK BIDDERS:  If you require registered post - "sign for" - then this will be an extra £1.10 per package (UK purchasers only).

PAYMENT FOR OVERSEAS BIDDERS: By Paypal Only.  Sorry, but overseas (non UK) personal checks and International Money Orders are NOT accepted due to huge bank charges.

POSTAGE OVERSEAS BIDDERS:  Please note that Surface Mail is very slow (6 to 12 weeks).