1953 The Real MacKay Ian MacKay First Limited Edition retailer Manuscript

The first edition of this work, published in 1953, year following Ian MacKay's death, known labour correspondent, diarist, and essayist. Common feature in his work was an acute eye for the unusual and significant in our human story. The present volume comprises a collection of seventy-two pieced reprinted from the author's vast selection of diary articles and essays. Edited by Stanley Baron, with illustrations throughout by Vicky and a Profile by R. J. Cruikshank. Published in a limited edition, limitation is not given. This is copy number one hundred and fifty eight of the Friends' Edition. With a manuscript mounted between the limitation page and the Index, being an actual sheet of copy, just as it went to the printer, in the handwriting of MacKay. It reads:"This is not a Samuel Smiles self-help story of the industrious apprentice and still less is it the story of the break lad making good. For Will Y., though he is as Scotch as the Tam O'Shanters he sells, was born in England. // He spent the best part of his youth - and this is the best part of the book, too - leading a kind of [...] existence behind London suburban context + even now when I meet him I can hear the ping of the money box carrying the change always the old fashioned wires in Whiteleys and retailer Quin and Axtens. // Before he settled down he roamed the wired and" Condition Report: In the original publisher's full cloth binding. Externally lovely with minor shelf wear only and a hint of fading to the spine. The dust wrapper is excellent with only minor shelf wear and some professional tape repairing internally to the head of the spine, unclipped. The slipcase is very smart with some shelf wear and minor soiling. Internally, firmly bound. The pages are bright and clean. Illustrated in text throughout. Overall: Fine