Cecil Beaton

Rare books by Cecil Beaton, including first editions, signed copies, limited editions, dust jacket designs, artwork and ephemera. Plus, the best books on Beaton, including vintage exhibition and auction catalogues, and classic monographs.

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.’

Below are the books, art and ephemera by and about Cecil Beaton which we currently carry. If there is a specific book on Cecil Beaton that you would like to find or sell, please get in touch.

76 Items
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Cecil Beaton's Scrapbook
£650.00

The much sought-after second book by Beaton.

Cecil Beaton's Scrapbook [DELUXE SIGNED EDITION]
£4,500.00

A striking deluxe signed copy of Beaton's second book.

Chinese Album
£200.00

Cecil Beaton's photographs from his tour of China during the Second World War.

Don't Tell Alfred
£90.00

Nancy Mitford's sequel to 'The Pursuit of Love' and 'Love in a Cold Climate', with a dust jacket by Cecil Beaton.

Far East
£140.00

Beaton's account of his war-time experiences in India and China.

Fashion. An Anthology by Cecil Beaton
£90.00

The catalogue for Beaton's influential fashion exhibition at the V&A.

Fashions. Christmas Number, 1934 [Harvey Nichols Trade Catalogue]
£240.00

With a cover reproducing Beaton's design for Christmas gift boxes.

History Under Fire
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Cecil Beaton and James Pope-Hennessy's architectural record of the London Blitz.

History Under Fire [ASSOCIATION COPY]
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Inscribed by Cecil Beaton to his dear friend Edith Olivier.

I Take Great Pleasure
£120.00

Cecil Beaton's amusing account of his lecture tour across North America.

Images
£60.00

Cecil Beaton's most experimental photographs.

India
£800.00

Cecil Beaton's Bombay-published photo book, with the scarce dust jacket.

It Gives Me Great Pleasure
£140.00

Cecil Beaton's amusing account of his lecture tour across North America.

Japanese
£400.00

Beaton's photographic and literary tribute to Japan.

Jeanne de Casalis and Tom Douglas in 'Fata Morgana'. An Original Drawing by Cecil Beaton
£3,000.00

A signed early drawing by Cecil Beaton.

Madame De Pompadour
£80.00

Nancy Mitford's biography, with a dust jacket design by Cecil Beaton.

Midnight Cavalcade, 1954
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The programme for a charity theatrical gala event, with a cover design by Cecil Beaton.

My Bolivian Aunt
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Beaton's ode to the style and flair of his Aunt Jessie.

My Bolivian Aunt [SIGNED]
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A signed copy of Beaton's ode to the style and flair of his Aunt Jessie.

My Royal Past By Baronness von Bulop as told to Cecil Beaton
£280.00

A first edition of Beaton's spoof memoirs of Baroness Von Bülop.

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