First Book, Outstanding Condition
Odette D'Antrevernes and a Study in Temperament.
London: Elkin Matthews, 1905.
Price: $750.00
About the item
First edition, trade issue, of Ronald Firbank's first separate publication, issued in an edition of 500 copies bound variously in sea-green wrappers and in this binding (simultaneously according to the bibliographer). There were also 10 presentation copies in large format prepared for Firbank. 45 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. First Book, Outstanding Condition. Original rose stiff wrappers, printed in grey-blue Apart from a short split at top of front spine fold, a fresh, unfaded copy, virtually untouched. Bookplate of Charles Edmund Merrill, Jr. Fine copy in custom rose cloth slipcase and chemise. Benkovitz A1a.
Item #345418
Firbank’s first published work. This title is seen regularly, but rarely in such admirable condition.
“Firbank’s triumph was on a smaller scale: he didn’t write a magnum opus — nor, indeed, did he ever cherish so tedious an ambition.” — Jocelyn Brooke
This copy with the bookplate of Charles Edmund Merrill, Jr., whose brother was poet James Merrill. Their father had founded Merrill Lynch. C.E.M., Jr., established the Commonwealth School in Boston and ran it for more than two decades. He was author of The Walled Garden (1982) and other works.
