"All At Sea: A Social Tragedy In Three Acts for First-Class Passengers Only" 1927 SITWELL, Osbert & Sacheverell
$450
SITWELL, Osbert & Sacheverell
[199] pp.
Duckworth
1927
9" x 6 1/8"
Jacket design by Cecil Beaton
VG/ VG
The dust jacket for All at Sea is Beaton's second design for a book cover. It features a grey and pink illustration of a stylized cocktail bar on an art deco liner, with wave border and titles. The image is adapted from an original set design created by Beaton for Osbert and Sacheverell's short satirical play First-Class Passengers Only. The play had premiered at the Arts Theatre in London earlier that year, starring the brothers' sister Edith. It is reproduced in All at Sea alongside Osbert Sitwell's 'A Few Days in an Author's Life, being the preface to "All At Sea," and containing tales of modern knight-errantry and derring-do, with a few reflections that arise therefrom.' Beaton met the Sitwell siblings during the early stages of his career. Their support, which included being photographed by the budding artist, gave Beaton an entrance into their creative milieu.