ELKIN

A fascinating collection of material, casting light on a furtive and little-discussed aspect of the English antiquarian book trade. (For further information see 'Anatomy of an Auction: Rare Books at Ruxley Lodge, 1919' by J. I. Freeman and A. M. Freeman, and 'Out of Print and into Profit', ed. G. Mandelbrote.) Of the eight items, all but Item Two below are in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. It would appear that some of the material at least was published, but precise details are not known.

ONE: Elkin Mathews catalogue. xii + 125pp., 8vo. 776 items, with a number of facsimiles. In grey printed wraps. Internally in fair condition, on aged paper, cocked at foot, in heavily-worn wraps with repair to rear cover. Containing numerous annotations in Senhouse's close, neat hand, mostly in pencil, giving bibliographical information relating to various entries, with reference to his own collection. Next to the entry for a first edition of 'English Bards and Scotch Reviewers' Senhouse writes: 'my copy "H S" Sold to Quaritch'.

vi + 110 + [1]pp., 8vo. Frontispiece. In grey printed wraps. Nicely printed. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with minor damp staining to corners. The firm's fifth catalogue, compiled by partners Evans and Gathorne-Hardy.

[2] + 8pp., 8vo., with an additional 6pp of illustrations. Aged and creased, with rusted staples. Typeset with something akin to an IBM golfball. Introductory note: 'This small collection of children's toys and games was formed in the early years of this century and had remained undisturbed in a packing case until purchased by us some months ago. Some of the toys show signs of use but in general the condition is very good. Adequate description is difficult and we have endeavoured to illustrate as many of the toys as possible.

Letter: 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Closely-written with 40 lines of text. In very good condition, lightly-aged, and attached to the book by a thin strip of gummed paper. Mathews writes that it gave him great pleasure to receive Hodson's letter 'a month or two ago', and that he has only delayed replying because it has 'taken some time to get into touch with Rd. Aldington'. He gives a quotation of 24 lines from a letter he has received from Aldington after passing on Hodson's 'kind appreciation'.

The second item is loosely inserted in the first. Item One (offprint): 29pp. (paginated 141-169), 8vo. Stapled; in printed grey card wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and dogeared. Bookplate on reverse of front wrap, stating 'From the Library of | PERCY H. MUIR'. Item Two (bibliography): 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Fourteen pages of biography, followed by bibliography, with latest date 1937. At end: 'The Libraries Committee is pleased to announce that E. H. W.

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. ONE: Typescript. 5pp., 4to. Paginated 1 to 5, with the first three pages and last two forming separate sections, the second section headed 'P.S.' C. A. Maginn's signature in type on pp.3 and 5, and his address given on p.3. The second page contains the subscription list to the proposed memorial, with eleven contributions listed in type (headed by three guineas from Messrs BLackwood & Sons, and including a guinea apiece from Professor Saintsbury, A. P.

Both letters are addressed to 'Dear Jake'. Both are in good condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Letter One: 1p., 8vo. Addressed to Carter at 26 Carlyle Square. Explaining the complications of a planned joint visit to the Hague. Letter Two: 1p., 8vo. Addressed to Carter at Sotheby's, New Bond Street, with Percy Muir copied in. On returning 'the draft note on the S.M. Handlist' (not present) he makes three long comments (totalling 32 lines of text). The first comment deals with two versions of the publication, 'varying in the dedication.

AUTHOR'S COPY, WITH HIS MANUSCRIPT REVISIONS FOR THE SECOND EDITION. Octavo: 96 pages. Seven plates (of eight). Original olive cloth gilt, with pierrot on front board. Numbered copy twelve in the edition. One leaf (pages 49-50) removed. Aged, and in heavily worn boards. Carrying manuscript changes on twenty-two pages, as well as on a plate and the front board. Cutting loosely inserted, regarding a couplet by 'E. V. L.' of Brighton (clearly E. V. Lucas) addressed to Mew regarding the word 'hyperbole'. Six of Greiffenhagen's seven illustrations are present.