fisher t. unwin and victorian ‘ library series
they appear in Ouida’s Le Selve which appears to be the last title published in the series). I have examined them all (but one – see below) in the British Library and all have Poppies suggesting that this was indeed the first edition design, supplied to the library under its copyright library legal obligation. I also checked the AbeBooks listings on 3 August 2018. 1. A Gender in Satin , by Rita (Pub. 1895). ‘Rita’ was Eliza Margaret J. Humphreys (1850–1938), a very pro- lific 4 author of popular novels and short stories. Sadleir 5 did not have it, but Wol V 6 had a copy [No. 5847] which he regarded as a first edition. He does not mention the Poppies design but describes ‘Greyish beige unglazed buckram blocked in dark green, orange, and gold, and lettered in gold on front and spine’. This corresponds with the British Library copy. AbeBooks has only one original copy that is also Poppies. 2. The Making of Mary , by Jean Forsyth (Pub. 1895). ‘Jean Forsyth’ was Jean Newton MacIlwraith (1858–1938), a now forgotten Canadian writer of historical romance and short stories. Neither Sadleir nor Wol V had a copy and there are none on AbeBooks. 3. Diana’s Hunting , by R[obert] Buchanan (Pub. 1895). Buchanan (1841–1901) had some success as a poet before turning to novels and plays. He is largely forgotten today for his writing, although his North Coast (1868) is collectable for its six illustrations by G.J Pinwell, the fine 1860s wood engraver; and for his Ballad Stories of the Affections which has an attractive decorated trade bind- ing by Albert Warren. 7 Again, neither Sadleir nor Wol V had a copy and there are none on AbeBooks. 4. Sir Quixote of the Moors , by John Buchan (Pub. 1895). Buchan (1875–1940) needs no introduction: this was his first nov- 4 . Around 120 published volumes. 5 . XIX Century Fiction, A Bibliographical Record , Michael Sadleir (2 vols., New York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc.) 1969. 6 . Nineteenth Century Fiction, A Bibliographical Catalogue , Robert Lee Wol V (5 vols., New York: Garland Publishing, Inc.) 1986. 7 . Victorian Decorated Trade Bindings: 1830–1880 , Edmund M. B. King (London, The British Library) 2003. No. 746.
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