Lot 124 , Lewis, Wyndham (editor) - The Tyro (No.2), quarto, paper wrappers, The Egoist Press, London [1922] and

Lewis, Wyndham (editor) - The Tyro (No.2), quarto, paper wrappers, The Egoist Press, London [1922] and Browne, Felicia - Drawings, quarto, 20 drawings, Lawrence and Wishart, London 1936 (2)
Estimate £80-120

Felicia Browne's Involvement in the Spanish Civil War
In July 1936 Browne embarked on a driving holiday to France and Spain, accompanied by her friend Dr Edith Bone, a left-wing photographer. Their objective was to reach Barcelona in time for the People's Olympiad (the socialist riposte to the Olympic games in Hitler's Berlin). However, they arrived shortly before the military rebellion against the Spanish republic that heralded the start of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and were immediately caught up in the violence that engulfed Barcelona on 19 July 1936. On 3 August 1936, after several attempts she successfully enlisted in the PSUC (Catalan Communist) Karl Marx militia to fight in Aragaon on the Zaragoza front. According to the Daily Express correspondent Sydney Smith she demanded to be enlisted to fight, declaring that "I am a member of the London Communists and I can fight as well as any man". Shortly after joining she wrote to her friend Elizabeth Watson describing her desperation to get involved; "Apparently no chance of aviation school on account of my eyesight, God damn it."
On 25 August 1936 Browne was killed in action on the Aragón front near Tardienta, while part of a band of raiders that attempted to dynamite a Fascist munitions train. The party was itself ambushed and Browne was shot dead while assisting an injured Italian comrade. Browne's body had to be left there but comrades retrieved a sketchbook from her possessions filled with drawings of her fellow fighters. These made their way to Tom Wintringham, a journalist for the Daily Worker, who suggested to Harry Pollitt that they be sold by the Artists' International Association to raise money for Spanish relief. The Artists' International Association (AIA) presented Browne as being the epitome of an artist choosing to take direct political action.
Her friend and colleague Nan Youngman, who was much affected by her death, organized her memorial exhibition In October 1936.



Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £45