"FLUSH WAS NOT AN ORDINARY DOG"

WOOLF, Virginia. Flush: A Biography. London: Published by Leonard and Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press, 1933. Octavo, contemporary full navy morocco, spine gilt-decorated with dog emblems, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $950.

First edition of Woolf's popular biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's dog, Flush, handsomely bound in full morocco by Bayntun-Riviere.

"Biographically, Flush is interesting, for in a way it is a work of self-revelation… Flush was Elizabeth Barrett Browning's spaniel, given to her by Miss Mitford; he was stolen and Miss Barrett had to retrieve him from a thieves' den in the East End of London; she took Flush with her when she eloped with Browning, and he ended his days in Florence. The narrator is Virginia herself but an attempt is made to describe Wimpole Street, Whitechapel and Italy from a dog's point of view, to create a world of canine smells, fidelities and lusts" (Bell, 409). Illustrated with four plates after original drawings by Vanessa Bell and six additional plates. Kirkpatrick A19a. Woolmer 334.

Spine mellowed, gilt bright. A lovely volume in fine condition.