London: Max Parrish and LCC 1951

128pp, including 30pp sponsors and suppliers' ads. Illustrated with b/w photographs plus very attractive illustrations, printed in block colour with a strong Festival of Britain aesthetic. Cloth, slightly sunned along top edge. In d/w with a few small marks a bit worn and darkened. Protected in mylar sleeve. A souvenir volume to celebrate the opening of the Hall, designed by F.H.K. Henrion, with illustrations by Gordon Cullen, Donald Dewar Mills, Pearl Falconer and others. Contains a full description and photographic record of its construction and original interiors. Internally slipped in typescript on London County Council headed paper from the Press Bureau for a council meeting on Tuesday 21st April 1953 entitled "Speeches on the leave taking of Mr Robert Matthew's Architect to the Council." With Passenger list for the Mauretania July 16th 1949 which includes Matthew's + loosely inserted period newspaper cuttings one from the Weekly Scotsman [ October 13 1949] on Robert Matthew's being appointed as designer of the Festival Hall an done form the Manchester Guardian about the Festival of Britain [ May 6 1951]. Finally, there is a blue print drawing of the Festival Hall elevation in sketch form on a large piece of architectural drafting paper. Possibly by Matthew's who possibly owned this copy of the book. Book from the library of Robert Mathews office but without his name.