SASSOON, Siegfried (1886-1967). Counter-Attack and Other Poems, London, August 1918, 8vo, original wrappers, FIRST EDITION, second impression, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed by the author to H. T. Baker in pencil on the half title.

SASSOON, Siegfried (1886-1967).  Counter-Attack and Other Poems. London: William Heinemann, August 1918. 8vo (183 x 122mm). Half title, publisher's woodcut device on title (consistently lightly browned throughout). Original tan-paper-backed red wrappers with the printer's device on both wrappers, the tan spine lettered in red. Provenance: Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon (modern armorial bookplate loosely-inserted). A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION, the second impression, printed in August 1918 (the first impression being printed in June of the same year), PRESENTATION COPY, the half title inscribed in pencil, "For H. T. Baker, from Siegfried Sassoon. 15/12/18. 'Going to the office in the train!' (p-19)"; further inscribed in ink beneath, presumably in the hand of the recipient, recording the train journey, "Blackburn to Euston, 15 Dec. 1918." In his inscription, Sassoon quotes from the last line of the poem "Dreamers" which is included on page 19 of the present collection. The inscription seems to have been made following a chance encounter on a train. H. T. Baker was Harold Trevor Baker (1877-1960), M.P., sometime Warden of Winchester College and a close friend of Anne Clarissa Eden, Countess of Avon. Whether Harold Baker was in possession of the book already, and, recognising the poet, opportunely asked him to sign it for him, or whether Sassoon gave him the inscribed book as a gift, is not recorded. At the time of their meeting, Sassoon was recuperating in England having been wounded by 'friendly fire' in July 1918. He never returned to the front again. Keynes A17a.