Thomas Edward Lawrence will forever be known simply as "Lawrence of Arabia". Initially working in the Middle East as an archaeologist in the early 1910s he became a well known and respected figure in the region. Following the outbreak of war he was recruited by the British Foreign Office to act as liaison between the Arab tribes and the British, the ultimate aim being to agitate an Arab Revolt against the Turks to assist in the war effort.
Living with the tribes in the desert for several years Lawrence led raids, planned battles and provided key military intelligence. He was to become a national hero to the British through the journalistic accounts of his exploits, and was adopted as one of their own by the Arab tribes as he worked to try and secure their independence.
Immortalised for a more modern audience in the iconic Peter O'Toole film, Lawrence's adventures were also captured in great detail in his own words. Following the war he spent seven laborious years writing his own version of events based on his extensive notes. After going through various redrafts, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, was initially published as an expensive, private subscription in 1926. This approach meant that that relatively few copies were distributed and today first editions can reach $100,000 at auction.
In 1935 - just after his death - an abridged version was produced for general sale. First editions of this Jonathan Cape publication realize up to $5,000. Lawrence's other autobiographical work is about his time under an assumed name in the Royal Air Force. The Mint was published posthumously in 1936 as a limited edition and can reach $10,000 or more.
A talented linguist, Lawrence also produced English translations of The Odyssey and the French The Forest Giant. These books extend the works available for collectors, but it is for his detailed accounts of his heroic involvement in the Arab Revolt that Lawrence will always be most admired and sought after by collectors.
Lawrence, T.E. PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND. Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund, London (1915). WOOLEY, C. Leonard; THE WILDERNESS OF ZIN (ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT; 37 plates, 2 maps, and 59 in text illustrations including 1 fold-out plan.
Lawrence, T.E. Wilderness of Zin. Palestine Exploration Fund, London (1915). with a chapter on the Greek inscriptions by M. N. Tod; Introduction by Sir Frederick Kenyon; (Archeological Report) Annual 1914-1915. Double Volume; C. Leonard Woolley; 200 copies; Illustrated with 37 full-page plates printed on coated paper and tissue guards, 58 illustrations in the text and with one folding plan and 2 maps
LAWRENCE, T.E. A Brief Record Of the Advance Of The Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Government Press / Survey of Egypt, Cairo (1919). Under the Command of General Sir Edmund H. H. Allenby, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. July 1917 to October 1918; Compiled from Official Sources and Published by The Palestine News
Pirie, Gordon. A Brief Record Of the Advance Of The Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Palestine News, Cairo (1919). Lieut-Colonel H (Military Editor); Under the Command of General Sir Edmund H. H. Allenby, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. July 1917 to October 1918; Compiled from Official Sources and Published by The Palestine News; Illustrated with portrait frontispiece of General Allenby and 56 coloured plates. Plate 1 is 'Reference To Conventional Signs' (of the maps) plus 55 full-page coloured maps illustrating military operations; The two anonymous T E Lawrence contibutions are 'Sherifian co-operation in September' and 'Story of the Arab Movement'
Doughty, Charles M. Travels in Arabia Deserta. Philip Lee Warner, Publisher to the Medici Society and Jonathan Cape, London and Boston (1921). With an Introduction by T. E. Lawrence; 2 Volumes; 500 copies printed; 300 copies offered for sale, 100 in the United States and 200 in the United Kingdom
Lawrence, T.E. Catalogue of an Exhibition of Paintings, Pastels, Drawings and Woodcuts. Ernest Brown and Phillips, London (1927). Illustrating Col. T.E. Lawrence's Book Seven Pillars of Wisdom; With Prefaces by Bernard Shaw and T.E. Lawrence
Lawrence, T.E. Revold in the Desert. George H. Doran Co. (1927). 16 illustrations and Sketch Map of journeys in the book.
Lawrence, T.E. Revolt in the Desert. George H. Doran, New York (1927). The frontispiece portrait of Lawrence is by Augustus John; Seven of the fifteen portraits in the book are by Eric Kennington; 250 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. Revolt in the Desert. Jonathan Cape, London (1927). With 16 black and white illustrations, large folding map at rear; 315 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. Odyssey. Printed and published by Sir Emery Walker, London (1932). HOMER; Translated by T. E. Lawrence; 530 copies printed
Lawrence, T. E. Letters from T.E. Shaw to Bruce Rogers. Privately Printed at the press of Wm. Edwin Rudge (1933). First volume 200 copies; second volumes 300 copies.
Lawrence, T. E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Doubleday, Doran and Company, Garden City, New York (1935). 750 copies printed; It also contains four maps in red and black and 47 plates of illustrations of characters, including four in color
Lawrence T. E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Jonathan Cape, London (1935). 54 illustrations (4 in color), 4 maps, facsimiles of: a manuscript page; 750 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Jonathan Cape, London (1935). with a portrait frontispiece, 47 plates by Kennington, Rothenstein, Roberts and others, 6 illustrations in the text and 4 folding maps; 750 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. Crusader Castles. Golden Cockerel Press, London (1936). 1000 copies printed; ; vol l: The Thesis; introducton by A.W. Lawrence, 106 drawings, sketches, diagrams, two maps, 56pp. text; vol ll: The Letters; introduction by Mrs. S. Lawrence; 60 drawings
Lawrence, T. E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Jonathan Cape, London (1936). A Triumph; Fifty-four black and white illustrations in a variety of media and by a variety of artists, the majority being in pastel by Kennington, four folding maps
Lawrence, T. E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Doubleday, Doran, New York (1936). A Triumph; Vol. I and II; Many illustrations/art work by Kennington.
Lawrence, T. E. The Wilderness of Zin. Jonathan Cape, London (1936). With a chapter on Greek Inscriptions by M.N.Tod and a preface by Sir Frederic Kenyon; With 40 b/w photograph plates at back and line drawings and diagrams in text, with 2 maps
Lawrence, T. E. The Wilderness of Zin. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York (1936). With an Introduction by Sir Frederic Kenyon and a Chapter on the Greek Inscriptions by M.N. Tod; Folding plan and 40 plates, plans and diagrams to the text
LAWRENCE, T. E. Travels in Arabia Deserta. Jonathan Cape, London (1936). DOUGHTY, Charles M.;With an Introduction by T. E. Lawrence; 2 VOLS
Lawrence, T.E. An Essay on Flecker. Doubleday Doran and Co, New York (1937). 60 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. Crusader Castles, The Letters. Doubleday, Doran, Garden City, New York (1937). With a Preface By Mrs Lawrence; 56 copies.
Lawrence, T.E. The Diary. Corvinus Press,London (1937). 203 copies printed; With a gold and black illustration at the head of the first chapter, and thirteen full-page plates of photographs taken by the author, showing archaeological sites, Arab sheiks, and views
Lawrence, T.E. The Diary. Doubleday, Doran, NewYork (1937). 56 copies printed.
Garnett David. LETTERS OF T.E. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. Jonathan Cape, London (1938). 16 photographs and illustrations including 4 maps of which two are folding
Lawrence, T E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Garden City Publishing Company, New York (1938). A Triumph; Illustrated throughout with portraits,maps,plans and line drawings
Lawrence, T. E. T. E. Lawrence to his biographer,Robert Graves. Faber and Faber, London (1938). [and] T. E. Lawrence to his biographer, Liddell Hart; Two volumes in slipcase; Information about himself, in the form of letters, notes and answers to questions, edited with a critical commentary; Total 1000 copies printed; 500 copies for Great Britain.
Lawrence,T.E. T.E.Lawrence to His Biographer Robert Graves. Doubleday Doran, New York (1938). with T.E.Lawrence to His Biographer Liddell Hart Information About Himself in the Form of Letters, Notes and Answers to Questions.andc; 100 copies printed; 500 copies for the U.S
Garnett, David. The Letters of T.E.Lawrence of Arabia. Jonathan Cape, London (1938). First State hasBaltic on page 182 andT.E.L. on page 495; With 16 photographs and illustrations, and four maps, two of which fold-out
LAWRENCE, T. E. Eight Letters from T.E.L. Privately printed [for H. Granville-Barker] (1939). 50 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. Oriental Assembly. Williams and Norgate, London (1939). EDITED BY A.W.LAWRENCE; WITH OVER 100 PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR.
Lawrence, T. E. Secret Despatches From Arabia. Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham, England (1939). Published by Permission of the Foreign Office;Foreword by A. W. Lawrence; Total 1000 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. Secret Despatches from Arabia. Golden Cockerel, London (1939). Foreword by A. W. Lawrence; Total 1000 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. Men in Print. Golden Cockerel Press, London (1940). Essays in Literary Criticism; With an introduction by A.W.Lawrence; Total 500 copies printed; Contains ''A note on James Elroy Flecker'', ''A Review of Books by D.H. Lawrence'', ''A Review of the Short Stories of H.G. Wells'', ''A Criticism of Henry Williamson's Tarka the Otter'', with ''Some Remarks on the Style of Doughty's Arabia Deserta'' and ''A Review of the Works of Walter Savage Landor''.
Lawrence, T.E. Oriental Assembly. E.P. Dutton and Co, New York (1940). Edited by A.W. Lawrence; With Photographs by the Author.
Lawrence, T.E. The Odyssey of Homer. Oxford University Press, New York (1940). From The Greek by T.E. Shaw [Lawrence of Arabia]; 2500 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. Shaw-Ede. Golden Cockerel Press, London (1942). T. E. Lawrence's Letters to H. S. Ede 1927-1935; Foreword and Running Commentary by H. S. Ede; With Collection of ALS from Ede to Kerrison Preston; 500 copies printed.
Doughty, Charles M. Travels in Arabia Deserta. Jonathan Cape, London (1943). With an Introduction By T.E. Lawrence; with a frontispiece portrait, a folding colour plate, 7 b/w plates, colour folding map and numerous text figures.
Lawrence, T. E. Los siete pilares de la sabiduria-Un triunfo. Sur-Buenos Aires (1944). Un Triunfo. Prologo de Victoria Ocampo
Lawrence, T.E. Lettres. Gallimard, Paris (1948). Traduction d'apres l'edition anglaise par ETIEMBLE et Yassu GAUGLERE et enrichies de quatre lettres inedites; 156 copies printed.
Doughty, Charles M. TRAVELS IN ARABIA DESERTA. Limited Editions Club, New York (1953). abridged by Garnett, Edward w/intro by Lawrence, T.E; 1500 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. The Home Letters of T.E. Lawrence and His Brothers. MacMillan, New York (1954). first state has cancelled title-page and Blackwell spine imprint; Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and 44 sepia-toned illustrations; A collection of letters home from three brothers T.E., W.G. and F.H. Lawrence
Lawrence, T.E. The Home Letters of T.E. Lawrence and His Brothers. Basil Blackwell, Oxford (1954). 2 PAGE HAND WRITTEN LETTER BY J G WILSON COMPARING T E L WITH A W L; With photographic illustrations by the author
Lawrence, T. E. El Troquel. Editorial Sur, Buenos Aires (1955). Apuntes diarios tomados en el Cuartel de Transito de la R.A.F. entre agosto y diciembre de 1922; Traduccion de Victoria Ocampo; 300 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. La Matrice. Gallimard, Paris (1955). Traduit de l'anglais par Etiemble; 156 copies printed.
Lawrence,T.E. The Mint. Jonathan Cape, London (1955). Notes made in the R.A.F. Depot between August and December, 1922 and at the Cadet College by T.E. Lawrence; This book has an Introduction by A W Lawrence, the author's brother; 2000 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. The Mint. Doubleday and Co, New York (1955). Notes made in the R.A.F. Depot between August and December, 1922 and at the Cadet College by T.E. Lawrence; 1000 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. From a Letter of T.E. Lawrence. Officina Bodoni for the Double Crown Club, Verona (1959). 70 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Jonathan Cape, London (1965). A Triumph; Preface by A.W. Lawrence. 13 illustrations (after originals by Augustus John, Kennington and Carline), 1 photograph, and 4 maps.
Lawrence, T. E. Minorities. Bertram Rota and Jonathan Cape, London (1971). Edited by J. M. Wilson; With a Preface by C. Day Lewis; 125 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. Letters to E.T. Leeds. Whittington Press, Gloucestershire (1988). Wilson, Jeremy;Leeds, E. Thurlow; 650 copies printed; illustrated with line drawings by Richard Kennedy and 23 b/w photographs
Lawrence, T. E. Letters to E. T. Leeds. Whittington Press (1988). With a commentary by E. T; Leeds edited and with an Introduction by J. M. Wilson with a memoir of E. T. Leeds by D. B. Harden and illustrated with line drawings by Richard Kennedy; 750 copies printed; A collection of 50 previously unpublished letters by Lawrence written from excavations in Syria with commentary by E. T. Leeds, introduction by J. M. Wilson, and a memoir of Leeds by D. B. Harden. Illustrated with line drawings by Richard Kennedy and photographs including some taken by Lawrence at the excavation of Carchemish
LAWRENCE, T.E. T.E. Lawrence Symposium Proceedings. Pepperdine University, Malibu (1988). A Collection of the Presentations made at the T.E. Lawrence Symposium; Includes Jeffrey Myers onT.E. Lawrence in his Letters, O'Brien onLawrence Bibliography, Stephen E. Tabachnik,Lawrence the Mechanic, John E. MackLawrence?s Vision for the Middle East: How does it look now?,
Lawrence, T.E. Letters to E.T. Leeds. Whittington Press, Andoversford (1988). 750 copies printed; Edited and introduction by J.M.Wilson. Memoir of E.T.Leeds by D.B. Harden; Illustrated with line drawings by Richard Kennedy
Lawrence, T.E. Cats and Landladies Husbands. T. E. Lawrence in Bridlington. Fleece Press, Denby Dale (1995). With an introduction by Richard Knowles and a note by Phil Clabburn; 400 copies printed; including 50 specially bound copies.
Lawrence, T.E. The Sayings and Doings of T.E. Lawrence. Fleece Press, Wakefield (1995). the Special Edition with Original Photographs; contains series of portrait photographs taken by Sims in White Cottage, Hornsea
Lawrence, T. E. Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Castle Hill Press, Fordingbridge (1997). a triumph; The complete 1922 text;3 volumes; Total 752 copies printed; 650 sets are bound in quarter-cloth and 80 sets in full goatskin
Lawrence, T. E. Correspondence with Bernard and Charlotte Shaw. Castle Hill Press, Fordingbridge (2000). Edited by Jeremy and Nicole Wilson; 4 Vols; 475 copies printed.
Lawrence, T.E. T.E. Lawrence Correspondence with Henry Williamson. Castle Hill Press, Fordingbridge (2000). 475 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. An Invitation to British Columbia. Heavenly Monkey, Vancouver (2005). A Letter From T.E. Lawrence To Martin A. Grainger; Preface by Jeremy Wilson; Foreword by Don Stewart; Frontispiece is a wood engraving by George Kuthan; 50 copies printed.
Lawrence, T. E. T E Lawrence. Castle Hill Press, Fordingbridge (2009). Shaw, Bernard and Charlotte, (editors Jeremy and Nicole Wilson); Correspondence With Bernard and Charlotte Shaw The Complete 4 Volumes 1922-1926, 1927, 1928 and 1929-1935; 475 copies printed.