DE LA MARE, Walter. Desert Islands and Robinson Crusoe. London: Faber and Faber, 1930. First edition, signed and inscribed by Walter de la Mare and 14 typed letters from the author to G.E. Manwaring tipped-in, 8vo (254 x 155mm.) Illustrations by Rex Whistler. (Scattered light spotting.) Original cloth (worn). Note: The letters span the years 1929-1936 and are all typed on ‘Hill House, Taplow’ headed writing-paper. G.E. Manwaring was a librarian at the London Library and the first letter is de la Mare reminding Manwaring of his offer to read the proofs of his book ‘Desert Islands’. Later, he mentions that his son [Richard] works at Faber and Faber and that his book ‘owes all it looks to him’. Walter also asks for recommendations as he is researching a book on juvenilia. In April 1932, Walter invites George to tea and gives convoluted instructions on how to get to his home. He would be ‘delighted’ to pick him up from the station but, alas, he ‘can’t drive’. Later, he critiques some poems that Manwaring has sent him saying, soothingly, that this is ‘only a personal criticism’. Provenance: G.E. Manwaring (bookplate to the front pastedown and ink inscription from the author on the half-title). – And a further volume by Walter de la Mare (‘Behold, This Dreamer!’, 1939, 8vo) (2).