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Price: US$935.00 + shipping
Description: Folio, 15.25 in. x 12.25 in., pp. 85. Signed and inscribed to Denis Martin by the author on front free endpaper. Illustrated with twenty full-page chromolithograph plates, by the author; printed one side only. Grey-green pictorial cloth of huntsman with three foxhounds on front ,in black, red, white, and brown. Black title to spine. Rubbing to extremiities. Scratches, small stains, and light bubbling to boards. Corners bumped. Light age-toning to pages. Hinges recently reinforced by our conservator. Drawings sharp and clean. Newer gray slipcase. Edith Anna Ånone Somerville (2 May 1858 - 8 October 1949) was anIrish novelistwho habitually signed herself as "E. Å. Somerville". The eldest of eight children, Somerville grew up in Drishane, Castletownshend,County Cork, She is said to have dominated her sister and brothers in a family where women were encouraged to be bold. She received her primary education at home, and then attendedAlexandra CollegeinDublin. In 1884, she went toParisfor the first of several trips to study art at theAcadémie ColarossiandAcadémie Delécluse, and then spent a term at theWestminster School of ArtinDean's Yard, Westminster. At home, riding and painting were her absorbing interests. In January 1886, she met her cousin Violet Martin, and their literary partnership began the following year.In 1898 Edith Somerville went to paint at theEtaples art colony, accompanied by Violet. There they profited from their stay by conceiving together the stories later gathered inSome Experiences of an Irish R. M., completed the following year.By the time Violet died in 1915, they had published fourteen books together. (Could Denis Martin, to whom this book is inscribed, be related to Violet Martin?) Somerville was a devoted sportswoman who, in 1903, had become master of the West Carbery Foxhounds. That year she also published Slipper's ABC of Fox Hunting, an irreverent and colorful children's ABC Book with a fox-hunting theme.
Seller: Aardvark Rare Books, ABAA, EUGENE, OR, U.S.A.
Price: US$1093.34 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Large 4to. 20 full size colour plates by Edith with letterpress opposite. Original lovat pictorial cloth, lettered red, black and white. otherwise a near fine copy with clean plates, sound hinges and minimal cover marks. Signed on the front free endpaper with Edith's characteristic signature and dated Oct. 14 1903. In 42 years specialising in books of Irish interest this is the only signed copy of this title we have had. A rare book in any condition due to breaking for the splendid plates. First edition.
Seller: JIRI Books, Lisburn, United Kingdom