Douglas Percy Bliss served in both World War One and World War Two; in the latter he put his artistic training to use by working in camouflage and deception, and in his spare time made two collections of favourite poems for his daughters, Prudence and Rosalind.

In total there were 66 poems, almost all of them illustrated by a carefully made coloured drawing, and the little girls treasured these gifts. Both are fully published here in facsimile form (much the same sort of feel as Mr Kilburn’s Calicos) with a letterpress introductory section printed at the Fleece Press and several tipped-in illustrations

Shown at lower left is the illustration for The Elfin People Fill the Tubes, a fairy poem by Winifred Mary Letts, one almost unknown even to her descendants. It was printed in Punch in 1920, and then disappeared from public familiarity, though Douglas or Phyllis remembered it, and Douglas’ illustration captures some fairy magic. The poem begins I know a solemn secret to keep between ourselves, I heard it from a sparrow, who heard it from the elves: like the rest of the poems, these are meant for reading aloud, to children or even just to ourselves.

While Daddy’s Away at the War runs to 108 pages and is co-published with Liss Llewellyn (https://www.lissllewellyn.com/) in an edition of 500 copies.

Price £90, postage free.