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Here is a unique Collection of Presentation copies of seven of Hodson's eight novels and short story collections published during his lifetime, including THE NIGHT LAND in the rare dark blue presentation binding. All the books are in handmade clamshell cases. Every book is in the first edition, fine condition, and all are inscribed to "Scraps" Bird, the young daughter of William Bird Jr., later Lt. Bird, with whose family Hodgson became quite close, especially "Scraps" (Wilhelmina) Bird. In addition, the collection includes a true rarity, related to the close bond between the two families: two additional unpublished poems handwritten by Hodgson in Scraps' small autograph album. This is a unique historical document, a true treasure for Hodgson collectors! See full description below. THE BOATS OF THE 'GLEN CARRIG' (1907). Red cloth. 1st Ed. Inscribed on front free endpaper: "Scraps/from/Hope./Xmas./07." Fine. THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND (1908). Red cloth. 1st Ed. Inscribed on front free endpaper: "Scraps/from/Hope,/(on her 13th Birthday.)/April 29th/08." Fine. THE GHOST PIRATES (1909). Red cloth. 1st Ed. Inscribed on front free endpaper: "Scraps/from/Hope--/Xmas/09." Front endpapers browned, fine. THE NIGHT LAND (1912). Dark blue/black, presentation binding. 1st Ed. With wonderful inscription on front free endpaper: "To Scraps,/That impudent maiden to whom/I first told the ever shaping tale/of The Night Land/From/Hope--/March 22nd/12/Do you 'member how you used/to shiver when The Night Land-Hounds/bayed; and how quietly it was/needful to get past the House of/Silence--eh?" Very Fine. Rare. MEN OF THE DEEP WATERS (1914). Red cloth. 1st Ed., 1st binding. Inscribed on slip of paper affixed to front pastedown: "Scraps/from/Hope./France./October 14th/14." Gilt spine lettering dull, else fine. THE LUCK OF THE STRONG (1916). Red cloth. 1st Ed. Inscribed on slip of paper affixed to front pastedown: "Scraps,/from/Hope--/June, 1916." Fine. CAPTAIN GAULT (1917). Red cloth. 1st Ed. Printed slip "With the Author's/Compliments" laid in. Touch of fading to spine extremities, some age darkening of text paper, fine (the best copy we have seen of this scarce book). Accompanying the seven books are several leaves from Miss Bird's small octavo autograph album with drawings and handwritten sentiments by friends. Hodgson's contributions comprise two (we believe, unpublished) poems, the first "The Fruit of the Tree of Life," eight lines dated 30 November 1906, the second, "Scraps! Scraps!! Scraps!!!," twelve lines of clever wordplay on the subject's nickname, dated 2 December 1906. The source of the relationship between Hodgson and the Bird family remains cloudy, but it surely was a close one, to have led to Hodgson staying with the family at times, dedicating a book to Bird?s wife, and maintaining a long term affectionate relationship with their daughter, who would have been eleven years of age at the time Hodgson added his poems to her album (see Frank, J "Under the Skin: A Profile of William Hope Hodgson" in Sargasso #2: The Journal of William Hope Hodgson Studies, 2014). We speculate that the last three books were not personally inscribed due to Hodgson's move to the South of France in 1913 and later military service during World War I. Two other books in matching clamshell boxes are also available: first, a rare first edition of CARNACKI THE GHOST FINDER in Good condition, second, a Very Fine inscribed copy of THE NIGHT LAND in red binding and red clamshell with tipped in two-page handwritten letter by Hodgson to the presentee Please contact me if you are interested in either or both of these volumes. Many more pictures available.shipping and insurance to be determined.
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