Brian Batsford Constitution Hill, Southwold

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(Note: The postcard reproduction is pale, lacking body, weight and richness [see thumbnail]; the image has been re-scanned for the Giclée print.)

BRIAN BATSFORD (1910–1991)

Brian Caldwell Cook Batsford was a British painter, designer, publisher, and politician. Born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, he was originally called Brian Cook, but in 1946 he adopted his mother's maiden name. In 1928 he began working for the production department of the publishing firm of B. T. Batsford, of which his uncle, Harry Batsford, was chairman.



He later became a Conservative politician and sat as the Member of Parliament for Ealing South from 1958 to 1974. But he is best remembered as Brian Cook, the illustrator and designer of the dust jackets of the highly-collectible Batsford books from the 1930s to the 1950s.