7o reproductions of works by Degas FREE to you
Degas Ballet Dancers. Introduction by Lillian Browse (Folio Society).
n R. JOHNSON, as always, had an observa- tion on the subject. 'Promise,' he said, 'large promise, is the soul of an advertisement'. In his day, the obligation to fulfil such promise was purely a moral one; today, it is legal as well. So when you see, for ,example, an advertise- ment promising you a book of seventy repro- ductions of Degas ballet dancers—free—you can be sure it is a book, and that it is free.
The only question that remains is whether the reproductions are good ones. There you must rely on the reputation of the publisher.
With The Folio Society, you need have no doubts. For more than twelve years now, it has specialised in producing books as attractive to look at as they are to read.
A brief description of the Society might not be out of place here. Membership entails no more than ordering four books in the year out of a varied list of almost sixty titles----there are no hidden charges, and no subscription.
Members #re able to buy copies of great and lesser classics, beautifully printed, finely de- signed, bound often in the luxuriously gold- tooled style which was once the prerogative of royal libraries—and all at a price no higher than ordinary books. Many of these editions are illustrated with superb historical prints, but RS many again contain the work of famous modern artists—Michael Ayrton and Mervyn A few of The Folio Society's fine bindings.
Peake, Cecil Beaton and Salvador Dali.
In the Society's list are none of last year's transient best-sellers. Instead, it concentrates on the great books of the world and on some of the more fascinating byways of literature and history—including several historical docu- ments of the first importance, which have never before been published. Balzac, Smollett and Shakespeare rub shoulders with Herodotus and 0. Henry; The Golden Ass and The Prisoner of Zenda are there,. as are an early Spaniard's description of the land of El Dorado, an eye- witness account of The Trial of Charles I, a con- temporary Life of Thomas Becket, a Burmese Life of the Buddha, and the Sonnets of Michel- angelo, illustrated with his own drawings.
And so, back to those Degas reproductions! Each year, the Society produces one book that is not for sale, a book that is presented free to all new and renewing members. This year the subject is Edgar Degas, perhaps the most loved
of all artists. Here, with accompanying text. are seventy large reproductions - -the book measures 1 1 f" x 8i", and is bound in quarter buckram—of paintings, drawings, pastels and sculpture of one of the artist's favourite, and most graceful, subjects : ballet dancers. Four- teen of these reproductions are in full colour, as true to the originals as the printer's art can make them. You will receive this book—free- as soon as you join The Folio Society.
For 18pp. illustrated prospectus, including two plates in colour, fill in and post the coupon below to The Membership Secretary. Folio Society, 6 Stratford Place, London, W.I.
Please send me, free and without obligation. The
Folio Society Prospectus for 1961. sP.5 NAME ADDRESS
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