One Special Summer. Written and Illustrated by Jacqueline and Lee Bouvier
New York: An Eleanor Friede Book/Delacorte Press, 1974. 1st Edition. Large quarto, publisher's aquamarine textured paper-covered boards, spine and upper board stamped in metallic blue, original photo-illustrated dust jacket.
Presentation copy first edition of this exuberant travelogue of a trip to Europe made in the early 1950s by the Bouvier sisters, when Jacqueline was a 22 year-old Vassar student spending a year at the Sorbonne and Lee was 17. "We did this book in a state of joy and laughter, which was our mood throughout the trip. We split the fun: Jackie did the drawings, the poetry and the parts on Rome and Spain. I described most of our adventures – on the Queen Elizabeth, in London, Paris, Venice, Rome and Florence" (from the introduction by Lee Bouvier Radziwill). Styled as a facsimile of the original handwritten and illustrated journal they compiled and gave to their mother as a gift of thanks, and illustrated throughout with color and black-and-white drawings, reproductions, and photos of places and people visited, including art historian Bernard Berenson, sculptor Pericle Fazzini, and a pair of Hohenlohe princes. Published simultaneously in a signed limited edition of 500 copies and a trade edition (as here). Inscribed by both sisters on the front endpaper to New York collage artist Robert Warner, who worked as an eyeglasses designer and counted the Bouviers among his clients: "For Robert - best wishes - Jacqueline Bouvier / For Robert - with my best regards - Lee Bouvier Radziwell / June 23rd 1992." Stated first printing on copyright page. Book fine; unclipped dust jacket with some chipping to spine-ends and edges, and light toning and edgewear. Very good overall. Most rare personally inscribed by both sisters. Item #5230
$1,400.00