presentation copy - inscribed by the illustrator

Inscribed on the front pastedown by Nicholson to the daughter, and her second husband, of his mistress and housekeeper Marie Laquelle; 'For Georgette and Norman Holder with love from W. N. who did the pictures. London. Xmas. 1916'.

'From about 1910 until he remarried in 1919, Nicholson's housekeeper Marie Laquelle, whose real name was Adèle Marie Schwarz, née Schiestel, was also his mistress. Nicholson painted her several times, first as Carlina in 1909; he also painted her daughter Georgette and her second husband Norman Holder' (The Art of William Nicholson, 2004).

First edition, inscribed by the illustrator; 4to; 12 full-page colour lithographs after original woodblocks, minor foxing to endpapers, else unmarked internally; original brown paper-covered boards, colour lithograph to upper cover showing illustration for The Bus Driver, plain tan cloth spine, red edges, edges of boards rubbed and bumped, spine worn; housed in felt-lined clamshell box, marbled paper boards, black calf spine, lettered in gilt.