Dark Monarch by Sven Berlin

The rare first edition of Sven Berlin’s depiction of the art world in St Ives. This edition was withdrawn from sale following allegations of libel concerning a number of figures associated with St Ives, making copies scarce. This remarkable copy has the allegedly offending passages marked in red pencil, with a cross in the top corner of each page to indicate where such material appears. Of its 204 pages, no fewer than 109 are marked in this way, sometimes with two or three passages marked on a single page. Condition: dust-wrapper worn with creasing to top edges and some chipping to head and tail of spine. Patch of tape residue to front endpaper.