Cecil Beaton
Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) is well-known as a photographer, artist, theatre designer and author. He captured images of the Bright Young Things; his work frequently appeared in Vogue; he travelled to India, the Middle East and China as an official war photographer; he photographed Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day; he won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design for Gigi and My Fair Lady. He straddled the twentieth century but remains ever-popular in the twenty-first, with books and exhibitions on his work and life appearing regularly.
During his lifetime Beaton authored over thirty books and provided dust jackets and illustrations for many more. When Beaton died in 1980, Lord Snowdon wrote in a tribute in The Sunday Times:
‘…he was much more than just a photographer. He was a great journalist, wit, commentator and diarist: a 20th-century Pepys using a pen, brush and camera.’
Beaux Books presents CECIL BEATON. THE PEN & THE CAMERA - a catalogue of first edition copies of all the books authored by Cecil Beaton during his lifetime, plus books with dust jackets and illustrations by Beaton, original artwork and ephemera.
Read our interview about the catalogue with The Book Collector
A signed Christmas card, with an original design by Beaton.
The printed service sheet for Beaton's memorial.
Michael Arlen's short story, illustrated by Cecil Beaton, to celebrate the opening of The Dorchester.
Cecil Beaton's photographic record of the British people at War.
A first edition of Beaton's record of his famous Wiltshire country house.
A signed first edition of Beaton's record of his famous Wiltshire country house.
Silk-bound limited and signed deluxe edition of Beaton's personal account of his love affair with ballet.
Cecil Beaton's potted history of photography, from the 'Britain in Pictures' series.
A complete set of Cecil Beaton's Diaries.
Beaton's memoir of his role as the set and costume designer for 'My Fair Lady'.
A first edition of Beaton's witty and glamourous snapshot of Manhattan in the 1930s.
An association copy of Beaton's snapshot of Manhattan, inscribed to Peter - Watson or Quennell?
A dedication copy of Cecil Beaton's New York, warmly inscribed to Mona Harrison Williams.
The much sought-after second book by Beaton, with the scarce dust jacket.