Item #68787 The Kingdom Of Redonda 1865-1990: A Celebration Edited by Paul de Fortis for The Redondan Cultural Foundation. Paul - DE FORTIS, With, Lawrence Durrell Roger Dobson, Count Potocki of Montalk, Christopher Martin, Paul de Fortis, His Majesty the King Cedric of Redonda -, SIGNED By, Kingdom Of Redonda.
The Kingdom Of Redonda 1865-1990: A Celebration Edited by Paul de Fortis for The Redondan Cultural Foundation.
The Kingdom Of Redonda 1865-1990: A Celebration Edited by Paul de Fortis for The Redondan Cultural Foundation.

The Kingdom Of Redonda 1865-1990: A Celebration Edited by Paul de Fortis for The Redondan Cultural Foundation.

NP [ Wirral, Cheshire ]: The Aylesford Press, 1991. First Edition, Deluxe. Hardcover. Octavo. 36pp. Blue leatherette spine over marbled boards, printed paper spine labels. The De Luxe edition of 50 hardbound hand-numbered copies SIGNED by King Cedric at the end of his Foreword, of which only 33 copies were sold, this being copy number 40. An amusing study of The Kingdom of Redonda, a micronation whose phsyical aspect exists - to the extent that it does at all - as a tiny uninhabited island in the Caribbean which for a few decades was heavily mined for the lucrative substance of guano (bird faeces - used for fertilizer). The "Kingdom" itself has largely existed in the minds of a succession of its Kings and aristocrats supposedly starting with Matthew Dowdy Shiell who reigned from 1865–1880 before passing it to his son the fantasy writer M. P. Shiell (who reigned as King Felipe I from 1880–1947) and John Gawsworth (who reigned as King Juan I from 1947–1967). From there on the succession is disputed, with a number of claimants, some of whom are said to have been bought the the title from Gawsworth.
In addition to the monarchy, Redonda, has an aristocracy largely composed of literary figures, including Arthur Machen, Victor Gollancz, Arthur Ransome, Lawrence Durrell, Gerald Durrell, Dylan Thomas, Henry Miller, Rebecca West, et al. In addition to addition to essays on various aspects of Redonda, the volume also includes the words and music to the Redondan national anthem. Very light shelfwear - one small spot of foxing on the fore-edge of the last few leaves, else a tight, clean VG+ copy (no dust jacket issued). Item #68787
ISBN: 9781869955175

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