Ɵ SITWELL, Edith. (1887 - 1964). Facade. Author's Presentation to her mother, signed and inscribed Limited edition, Privately Printed for the author. The Favill Press, Kensington, 1922. single volume, second edition, 8vo., (187 x 132mm), signed by Edith Sitwell, number 92 of 150 copies, original orange paper boards with brick pattern, white paper label, printed in black, pasted to front, foredge untrimmed, further inscribed by the author to her mother in black ink on front free e/p., 'Darling Mother / with Ediths very best love', half-title, colour frontispiece by Gino Severini tipped in, Compositor: Zina Drummond. Pressmen: Crosby Oakes, Kathleen Nutting, 27pp. 150 copies privately printed in February 1922. (Five extra un-numbered copies printed for printer's file and copyright purposes). NPG. tissue wrapping with printed label. National Portrait Gallery Exhibition. The Sitwells: 14/10/94 - 22/1/95. Catalogue No. c18 / 3.10. The first performance of Facade was held at Carlyle Square on 22 January, 1922, before an invited audience of the Sitwell's friends. They were each given typewritten programmes which preceded this first official edition.Lady Ida Emily Augusta Denison was Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell's mother, married Sir George Sitwell on November 26, 1886; within a few days of the wedding she ran home to her parents, but was firmly sent back to her husband. Lady Ida Sitwell, developing a taste for champagne and whiskey, had a difficult relationship with Sir George and her three children. In 1915, she was taken to court over another monetary scandal and was sentenced to three months in Holloway for fraud. Edith wrote, 'In later years after she had fallen amongst thieves, her appearance still retained the vestiges of that summer beauty, but as though a black veil had been thrown over it'.Provenance: From the Library of Dame Edith Sitwell. Condition Report boards bright but worn, front board splitting but attached, corners scuffed, spine split with loss to brick pattern, front free e/ps. with finger mark smudges, joints splitting p.16-17, o/w. clean internally.