NEEDHAM, Violet (author). Joyce BRUCE (illustrator). Pandora of Parrham Royal. London Collins. 1951

8vo.; publisher’s rose pink cloth lettered gilt to spine, in pictorial dustwrapper with upper cover design by Joyce Bruce wrapping round to spine; pp. [x], 11-286 + [i]; with illustrations in line; externally clean and sharp with oxidisation to gilt spine lettering and a few light fox-spots to edges of book block, internally very clean, without inscription, in an attractive, unclipped dustwrapper (8s 6d) with some foxing to the reverse and to flaps, nicking to spine ends and forecorners, a few old and very neat tape tabs to the verso, and light toning to advertisement panel; one of Needham’s scarcer titles.

First edition. On the death of her mother Pandora arrives at Parrham Royal to live with her father, following a period spent in wartime Greece with a band of guerillas. She finds it hard to settle with her new family and is also challenged by the mystery of the ancient temple on the hill.