83 HENRY VIII - “PHILALETHES Hyperboreus.” In Anticatoptrum suum, quod propediem in lucem dabit, ut patet proxima pagella, Parasceve. Lüneberg [but Antwerp]: per Sebastianum Golsenum, 1533 countering the king’s arguments that his first marriage was invalid Extremely rare first edition of a refutation of A Glasse of the Truthe , a tract justifying the king’s proposed divorce partly written by Henry VIII himself and published in 1532. Only two institutional copies are located worldwide, at the British Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Rare Book Hub lists its last appearance in auction at Sotheby’s in 1932. Published under the pseudonym “Philalethes Hyperboreus” (“the truth-loving man from the north”), the refutation is sometimes attributed to the Renaissance humanist scholar Juan Luis Vives (1492/3–1540), who had been friend and spiritual counsellor of Katherine of Aragon and tutor to Princess Mary. The text mentions the author’s education in Paris, which fits Vives. Another person accused of writing it was the future cardinal William Peto ( c .1485–1558), then an Observant friar of Greenwich, who had left England in late 1532 after publicly objecting to the divorce. Although not the refutation’s author, Peto probably arranged for its publication. Provenance: a) oval bookplate of Jean-Baptiste Verdussen (1698–1773), printer in Antwerp, to both pastedowns; his library was sold at auction, Antwerp, 15 July 1776; b) from the library of the British politician and bibliophile Thomas Grenville (1755–1846). He bequeathed his vast collection to the British Museum, but enviably had more than one copy of this rare title. The copy noted in Bibliotheca Grenvilliana is bound in green morocco. Small octavo (148 × 92 mm), ff. [44]. Mid-18th-century polished calf, spine gilt in compartments, sides ruled in gilt, gilt supralibros of Thomas Grenville added to centre, marbled endpapers, red edges. Oval bookplate of Jean- Baptiste Verdussen (1698–1773), printer in Antwerp, to both pastedowns; manuscript notes in Latin attributing the book to Vives on binder’s blank facing title, possibly in Verdussen’s hand. Two small wormholes at head of first two leaves, touching letters on title verso (small paper repair in the same place) and costing a letter either side of fol. A2, outer leaves toned, contents else clean and fresh, a very good copy. ¶ J. T. Payne & H. Foss, Bibliotheca Grenvilliana (2 parts, 1842–48). £11,000 [155829]
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84 HIATT, Charles. Ellen Terry and her Impersonations. London: George Bell and Sons, 1898 a stunning cuir bouilli binding by the guild of women binders First edition of this review of Ellen Terry’s career to date, in in a superbly executed “portrait” binding by the Guild of Women Binders, depicting Terry (1847–1928) as herself, Portia, Imogen, Rosamond, and Iolanthe, with an inscription from Terry on the plate depicting her as Imogen at page 240: “‘Farewell – God knows when we may meet again’ In remembrance of Ellen Terry – Allentown Jan 1915”. Terry was visiting the New York area in 1915 on her return from a tour of her programme of lectures on and recitations from Shakespeare in Australia and New Zealand, the quote in the inscription being from Juliet’s
final soliloquy. This is the copy of Beatrice Hawley Merriam (1881/4–1954), a resident of Allentown, with her inscription on the first blank: “London, Given to me in 1902 by my dear father, Frank W. Gunsaulus of Chicago. Beatrice”. Beatrice went to Wells College, and in April 1902 performed as Katherine in the school’s performance of The Taming of the Shrew , reviewed as “beautiful, spirited, and altogether fascinating” in The Baltimore Sun . It seems likely she was presented with this copy at that time. Terry herself played Katherine, including in the Garrick’s 1868 adaptation Katherine and Petruchio . Beatrice went on to study in the Sorbonne, teaching French on her return to the US, and was friends with the journalist and member of the Algonquin Round Table Franklin P. Adams. Her father, Frank Wakeley Gunsaulus (1856–1921), was a noted preacher, educator, author, and humanitarian based in Chicago. Alongside his local work he lectured widely in both the US and Europe.
Loosely inserted in this copy are two sepia portraits with facsimile signature, both from a farewell dinner in honour of Terry held on the 23 February 1911 at the Hotel Astor, one trimmed to remove the printed details, the other with a blind-stamped daffodil at the foot of the invitation, daffodils being Terry’s favourite flower. Octavo (182 × 123 mm). Contemporary brown cuir bouilli moulded calf by the Guild of Women Binders, their stamp at foot of front free endpaper verso, spine lettered vertically in blind in gothic script, front cover with 5 moulded portraits of Ellen Terry in different iconic roles, each labelled in blind, surrounded by a ground of moulded leaves, rear cover with trellis and foliate design in blind, gilt gauffered edges, marbled endpapers. Housed in a custom blue cloth box. Title page printed in red and black. Portrait frontispiece with tissue guard and 31 portrait plates. Minor rubbing at joints and edges, a couple of marks to leather, rear inner hinge starting, book block firm; a very good copy indeed. £3,000 [159783]
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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