High Street

Product Information

Much praise should be reserved to Jim Richards for his illuminating and highly detailed descriptions. Meanwhile, concern over loss of distinctiveness in the retail world has given us several recent books, whose authors share Ravilious’s love of the idiosyncratic.

James Russell’s writing has the clarity and concision of the paintings, and is both properly informative and enjoyably readable. We'll add a further small selection of Eric Ravilious 'High Street' original 1938 lithographs to our online gallery soon. Small bump to bottom corner of front cover, otherwise fine in fine card slipcase (apparently most copies were issued without the slipcase).PROVENANCE: Paul S Sharp (1921-1998; Artist and graphic designer; Wakefield School of Arts and Crafts prize plate to front pastedown).

Although it mainly featured his watercolour landscapes, the highlight for me was seeing a set of lithographs created during the war, showing life and work aboard a submarine. M. Richards pointed out in the foreword to the 1938 book, all real places, but in many cases we are given only tantalising clues as to their name or location. His enthusiasm for autolithography and children's books - he also launched the famous Puffin Picture Book series - made him the ideal publisher for High Street, although Ravilious also benefited from the invaluable support of the Curwen Press.

A facsimile edition of the classic High Street, which pairs the timeless illustrations of Eric Ravilious with a fascinating text by architectural historian J. Ravilious had initially proposed it to the Golden Cockerel Press, with whom he had previously worked, but they were unable to undertake such an ambitious project whereas Curwen's great interest in the area of lithography saw them subsidise the project. First published in 1938, this classic book introduces the British high street, pairing the timeless illustrations of beloved artist Eric Ravilious with an engaging text by architectural historian J. Other discoveries have opened unexpected avenues and offered valuable insights into artist and work.