Collection of 18 works of Juvenile Literature given to Junius Spencer Morgan, nephew of financier J.P. Morgan

New York, London, etc., 1884. 18 vols. 4to and smaller. All in publishers decorated cloth bindings. Generally fine, bright copies. 18 vols. 4to and smaller. A group of children’s books in superior condition from the childhood library of bibliophile-to-be Junius Spencer Morgan (1867-1932), nephew of financier and collector J.P. Morgan. Junius was closely affiliated with the Princeton University library, was an early member of the Grolier Club, and also served as advisor to his uncle during J.P. Morgan’s most active years as a collector. Junius Morgan formed an important collection of Virgil, now at Princeton University.
The volumes bear family presentation (truncated) inscriptions. The collection comprises:
1. [Quick, W.M.R., and Dalziel, E. & G.] Half Hours in the Far North. Life amid Snow and Ice. London: Daldy Ibister, 1877. Rust cloth gilt.
2. Half Hours Underground. Volcanoes, Mines, and Caves. London: Daldy Ibister, 1877. Green cloth gilt.
3. [Dalziel, E. & G.] Half Hours in Air and Sky. Marvels of the Universe. London: Daldy Ibister, 1877. Blue cloth gilt.
4. [Dalziel, E. & G.] Half Hours in the Wide West. Over Mountains, Rivers and Prairies. London: Daldy Ibister, 1877. Brown cloth gilt.
5. Half Hours in Woods and Wilds. Adventures of Sport and Travel. London: Daldy Ibister, 1877. Tan cloth gilt.
6. [Holder, C.F.] Half Hours in the Tiny World. Wonders of Insect Life. London: Daldy Ibister, 1877. Tan cloth gilt.
These six titles, in the Half Hour Library of Travel, Nature and Science for Young Readers, are inscribed “Junius S. Morgan Jr. Christmas 1878, Paris” in the same hand as the following five titles:
7. Napier, C.O.G. Lakes and Rivers. London: S.P.C.K., 1879. Tan cloth gilt.
8. Wood, Rev. J.G. Lane and Field. London: S.P.C.K., 1879. Green cloth gilt.
9. Duncan, P.M. The Sea-Shore. London: S.P.C.K., 1879. Green cloth gilt.
10. Taylor, J.E. Underground. London: S.P.C.K., 1879. Green cloth gilt.
11. — —. Mountain and Moor. London: S.P.C.K., 1879. Tan cloth gilt.
These five titles, in the Natural History Rambles series, are inscribed, “Junius S. Morgan Jr. from Grandmama J.P.M. Christmas 1879.”
12. Kingston, W.H.G. On the Banks of the Amazon; or, A Boy’s Journal of his Adventures in the Tropical Wilds of South America. London: Nelson, 1873. Orange cloth gilt, a.e.g.
Inscribed in the same hand: “Junius S. Morgan Jr. Christmas 1878, Paris”
13. Kingston, W.H.G. Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs. A Tale of land and Sea. London: S.P.C.K.,[n.d.] Blue cloth gilt, a.e.g.
Inscribed: “Junius S. Morgan Jr. London Dec. 18th, 1878”
14. Adams, Rev. H.C. The Encombe Stories; or, Taes for Sunday Reading. London: Frederick Warne, n.d. Green cloth gilt, a.e.g.
Inscribed, “Junius S. Morgan Jr. Christmas 1878”.
16. Edgar, J.G. A Boy’s Adventures in the Baron’s Wars; or How I Won My Spurs. London: Ward Lock, n.d.] Brown cloth gilt.
Inscribed “Junius S. Morgan Jr. from Georgia Christmas 1879.”
16. Thomas W. Knox. The Boy Travellers in the Far East. Japan and China. New York: Harpers, 1881. Crimson cloth pictorial gilt.
17. — —. The Boy Travellers in the Far East. Part Second To Siam and Java. New York: Harpers, 1881. Yellow pictorial cloth stamped in silver.
Both volumes inscribed by J.P. Morgan's mother, Juliet Pierpont Morgan to her grandson, the son of Sarah and George Hale Morgan, “Junius Morgan, Jr. Christmas, 1881”
18. — —. Thomas W. Knox. The Boy Travellers in the Far East. Part Fifth. Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey through Africa. New York: Harpers, 1884. Blue pictorial cloth gilt. Ownership signature, “Junius”. For Junius Morgan, see: Dickinson, Dictionary of American Book Collectors (1986), pp. 235-6; cf. also Strouse, Morgan (1999), pp. 378-81, 490 (Inventory #: 310985)