Death's Doings; Consisting of Numerous Original Compositions, in Prose and Verse, The Friendly Contributions of Various Writers; Principally Intended As Illustrations of Twenty-Four Plates Designed and Etched by R. Dagley

Dagley, Ricahrd

Published by J. Andrews & W. Cole, London, 1826

About this Item

[Harry Bache Smith Copy with Bookplate]; Etched engravings; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 369 pages; 1826 J. Andrews & W. Cole, London. 1st edition. An unusual and very interesting copy from the library of prominent American librettist and bibliophile, Harry Bache Smith, with his color pictorial bookplate to front pastedown, and (presumably) his very Jazz Age choice of rebinding style. Rebound in 1/2 green morocco with floral patterned paper covered boards and endleaves. A distinctively, and rather dissociative (for the title) Jazz Age choice of font and decorations in gilt to the compartments at spine. A manuscript note laid in at front appears to be a bookseller catalogue note, as it does not appear to be in Smith's hand. The note asserts unambiguously that two poems in the collection signed "Alfred" are in fact the earliest print appearance of poems by Tennyson, "ante-dating the 'Poems of Two Brothers' "published in 1827. Let it be said that this1st edition copy of Dagley's illustrated and edited thanatopsis is in strikingly well preserved condition. While there is a pair of very mild and shallow clam-shell shaped damp lines to the top edge of some of the early leaves, the contents are generally quite bright and neat with only quite mild expected toning to page stock. The two poems signed "Alfred" have a faint pencil finish "Lord Tennyson." This 1st edition with 24 full page etchings by Dagley, in the spirit of Holbein, is indeed wonderful in itself. But perhaps the more fetching qualities of this particular copy are the prior ownership of Smith, the quite apparently misguided assertions made by the book dealer who sold him the book, and the decision by Smith or the dealer to bind the book in a so ill-fitting - if decidedly of its time - fine binding. Laid in at rear are a handful of later 10th C bookdealer notes and biographical clippings, testament to his effort to sort out the strange of this copy. In our shop we have a short shelf of books to which we refer as odd or bizarre - for any number of reasons - and that is where this book will be shelved. VG++ thus. Seller Inventory # 51213

Bibliographic Details

Title: Death's Doings; Consisting of Numerous ...

Publisher: J. Andrews & W. Cole, London

Publication Date: 1826

Binding: 1/2 leather

Condition: Very Good+

Edition: First Edition; First Printing.