first edition
1837 · London
by (BINDINGS - CLUB BINDERY). BROWNING, ROBERT
London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Longman, 1837. FIRST EDITION. 224 x 142 mm. (8 3/4 x 5 1/2"). iv, [2], 131, [1], 4 (ads) pp.
VERY FINE DARK BROWN CRUSHED MOROCCO, GILT AND INLAID, BY THE CLUB BINDERY (stamp-signed and dated 1898 on front turn-in), covers with complex gilt strapwork frame enclosed by inlaid tan morocco strips, raised bands, spine compartments framed with inlaid tan morocco and gilt, gilt lettering, HONEY-BROWN CRUSHED MOROCCO DOUBLURES semé with gilt floral sprigs, swirling leafy vines at corners, moss green silk endleaves, all edges gilt. Original dun paper wrappers bound in at rear. Verso of front free endleaf with morocco bookplate of Henry William Poor; front flyleaf with hand-colored armorial bookplate of Christine Alexander Graham. ◆A touch of rubbing to a short portion of the front joint, leaves a little yellowed at edges (because of paper quality), but a very handsomely bound book in fine condition--clean and fresh internally, and in a lustrous binding.
This is a beautifully bound copy, with notable provenance, of the first printing of an early work by Browning. After receiving some favorable notice from literary lights of the day for "Paracelsus" (1835), Browning (1812-89) was invited by actor William C. Macready to write a tragedy for the London stage. Browning produced this historical drama about the downfall and execution of Charles I's close advisor, the Earl of Strafford, dedicating the work to Macready. With Macready in the title role, the play debuted in March of 1837, but only ran for five performances. Our binding is the work of one of the greatest American binderies. The Grolier Club was founded in 1884 as an organization to further the interests of America's most serious bibliophiles, and it soon became apparent that the country's few established hand binders were overtaxed in providing repairs and rebinding for the club members' rapidly accumulating acquisitions. As a consequence, in 1895, Grolier members, along with Edwin Holden and other wealthy collectors, established the Club Bindery in order to attract European craftsmen to provide, close to home, fine quality binding work rivalling what was available abroad. The workshop provided bindings that tended to be traditional in style--though frequently with elaborate decoration--and that lived up to its patrons' expectations in terms of excellence. The first members of the staff of the Club Bindery were the Englishmen R. W. Smith and Frank Mansell. They were subsequently joined by a number of French binders, chief among them being Léon Maillard, who had worked previously for Cuzin, Gruel, and Marius Michel. The Club Bindery was in operation until 1909, with Robert Hoe being its most influential manager and client. In 1906, the Grolier Club held "An Exhibition of some of the latest Artistic Bindings done at the Club Bindery"; most of the volumes on display belonged to our former owner, Henry William Poor (1844-1915), a financier and publisher whose firm was a forerunner of Standard and Poor's. He was a patron of the arts as well as a bibliophile whose collection was noted for its holdings in illuminated manuscripts, early printing, fine bindings, private press books, and American imprints. Unfortunate investments led to Poor's financial ruin, causing his impressive library to be sold at auction in 1908-09. His sales at Anderson Galleries brought in more than $200,000, a record at the time for an American collection. Our volume may have purchased at one of these auctions by (or more likely for) Christine Alexander Graham (1888-1959), daughter of a prominent St. Louis family and granddaughter of a U.S. senator.. (Inventory #: ST20090)
VERY FINE DARK BROWN CRUSHED MOROCCO, GILT AND INLAID, BY THE CLUB BINDERY (stamp-signed and dated 1898 on front turn-in), covers with complex gilt strapwork frame enclosed by inlaid tan morocco strips, raised bands, spine compartments framed with inlaid tan morocco and gilt, gilt lettering, HONEY-BROWN CRUSHED MOROCCO DOUBLURES semé with gilt floral sprigs, swirling leafy vines at corners, moss green silk endleaves, all edges gilt. Original dun paper wrappers bound in at rear. Verso of front free endleaf with morocco bookplate of Henry William Poor; front flyleaf with hand-colored armorial bookplate of Christine Alexander Graham. ◆A touch of rubbing to a short portion of the front joint, leaves a little yellowed at edges (because of paper quality), but a very handsomely bound book in fine condition--clean and fresh internally, and in a lustrous binding.
This is a beautifully bound copy, with notable provenance, of the first printing of an early work by Browning. After receiving some favorable notice from literary lights of the day for "Paracelsus" (1835), Browning (1812-89) was invited by actor William C. Macready to write a tragedy for the London stage. Browning produced this historical drama about the downfall and execution of Charles I's close advisor, the Earl of Strafford, dedicating the work to Macready. With Macready in the title role, the play debuted in March of 1837, but only ran for five performances. Our binding is the work of one of the greatest American binderies. The Grolier Club was founded in 1884 as an organization to further the interests of America's most serious bibliophiles, and it soon became apparent that the country's few established hand binders were overtaxed in providing repairs and rebinding for the club members' rapidly accumulating acquisitions. As a consequence, in 1895, Grolier members, along with Edwin Holden and other wealthy collectors, established the Club Bindery in order to attract European craftsmen to provide, close to home, fine quality binding work rivalling what was available abroad. The workshop provided bindings that tended to be traditional in style--though frequently with elaborate decoration--and that lived up to its patrons' expectations in terms of excellence. The first members of the staff of the Club Bindery were the Englishmen R. W. Smith and Frank Mansell. They were subsequently joined by a number of French binders, chief among them being Léon Maillard, who had worked previously for Cuzin, Gruel, and Marius Michel. The Club Bindery was in operation until 1909, with Robert Hoe being its most influential manager and client. In 1906, the Grolier Club held "An Exhibition of some of the latest Artistic Bindings done at the Club Bindery"; most of the volumes on display belonged to our former owner, Henry William Poor (1844-1915), a financier and publisher whose firm was a forerunner of Standard and Poor's. He was a patron of the arts as well as a bibliophile whose collection was noted for its holdings in illuminated manuscripts, early printing, fine bindings, private press books, and American imprints. Unfortunate investments led to Poor's financial ruin, causing his impressive library to be sold at auction in 1908-09. His sales at Anderson Galleries brought in more than $200,000, a record at the time for an American collection. Our volume may have purchased at one of these auctions by (or more likely for) Christine Alexander Graham (1888-1959), daughter of a prominent St. Louis family and granddaughter of a U.S. senator.. (Inventory #: ST20090)
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