Watercolor drawing (11 x 8 1/2 in. ; 279 x 216mm), being an illustration for the Black Sun Press edition of Les Liasons dangereuses, n.p., c. 1929.  Matted, glazed and framed (not examined out of frame) — Pencil drawing captioned "Portrait of Wilfrid Thorley" and initaled by the artist (8 7/8 x 8 1/2 in.; 225 x 216mm), n.p., n.d.  Matted, glazed and framed (not examined out of frame).

Condition as described in catalogue entry.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Two fine drawings by Alaistair, the erotic and macabre artist whose work best embodies the aesthetic of the Black Sun Press.  The very fine illustration from Les Liasions dangereuse offered here is a darkly humorous blending of botany and bondage.  The Crosbys had planned to include an original drawing with each of the fifteen Japanese vellum copies of the work.  This was never done, but a few copies accompanied by a drawing in a spearate envelope have surfaced.

The subtle and highly accomplished portrait drawing depicts Wilfrid Thorley (1878–1963), a British poet and translator, once well-know for his poem "Chant for Reapers"🌟.