Decorations and Absurdities 1923 First Edition Bohun Lynch Reginald Berkeley
 
Decorations and Absurdities By Bohun Lynch and Reginald Berkeley
 
Features
 
First edition, first published 1923
Illustrated throughout with caricatures and stylised drawings
Satirical blend of visual art, prose, and poetry
Includes caricatures of notable figures including Max Beerbohm, H. G. Wells, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and others
Publisher’s catalogue present at rear
A lively example of early 20th-century British literary satire
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Authors: Bohun Lynch; Reginald Berkeley
Title: Decorations and Absurdities
Publisher: W. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.
Address: 48 Pall Mall, London
Year: 1923
Edition: First published edition
Copyright: 1923
Format: Illustrated hardback (no dust jacket present)
Pagination: 137 pages + publisher’s catalogue at rear
Printing: Printed in Great Britain
Dimensions: approx. 23.4 × 17.4 × 1.5 cm
Weight: approx. 564 g
 
Exterior Condition
 
Bound in the publisher’s original cloth
Stylised dark lettering to front board and spine
Decorative emblem to rear board
Boards and spine intact, firm, and robust
Wear consistent with age, including:
Very soft bumping to corners
Rubbing to edges and extremities
Light fading, discolouration, and surface marks to cloth
Overall, a sound, presentable copy for over 100 years old
 
Interior Condition
 
Pages lightly tanned, with darker toning to endpapers
Internally clean, neat, and predominantly uncreased
Occasional small or light marks only
Very few small edge rips (including inner margin), not affecting text or illustrations
A handful of pages unevenly or roughly cut, consistent with period production
No pen or pencil inscriptions
Text block tight and secure
All pages present and firmly bound
 
About the Book
 
Decorations and Absurdities is a collaborative satirical work combining illustration, caricature, poetry, and prose.

Bohun Lynch and Reginald Berkeley use humour and absurdity to comment on cultural life, public figures, and artistic conventions of the early 20th century.
The illustrations, playful, stylised, and often sharply observant, are central to the book’s appeal, placing it firmly within the tradition of British literary and artistic satire.
 
About the Authors
 
Bohun Lynch (1884-1962) was an English poet, critic, and biographer, known for his wit and literary satire and a specialist in caricature.
 
Reginald Berkeley (1890-1935) was a British playwright, poet, and politician, associated with modernist and satirical circles.
 
Rarity and Market Context
 
First editions of this title are uncommon, particularly in intact cloth
Often encountered with heavier wear or missing pages
Illustrated satirical works of the 1920s have steady collector interest
Absence of dust jacket is typical and does not significantly detract