SESAME AND LILIES with an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED By John Ruskin
CHARLES AGVENT: Rare Books and Autographs (catalog surfing on Saturday morning).
RUSKIN, John. SESAME AND LILIES with an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) to his Publisher by Ruskin tipped in. London: George Allen, Sunnyside,
Orpington, 1896. Eleventh Edition. Full gilt-decorated green morocco by
Hatchard, gilt dentelles with marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. With an
AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by Ruskin to George Smith tipped in at the
front.
In full: "I am thoroughly ashamed at not having answered -- I
believe I did not -- your kind letter about Mr. Rich.-- I never meant to
say that Mr. Rich had done his work badly, but only that I think I can
do [?] little bit better -- and shall be very grateful to you if you
will let me do so. I have been delayed by a little cold in finishing my
[?] of lectures but hope to do so next week, and to have leisure for
everything. You see I am getting my [?] of letters looked over today. I
think you will find the Edinburgh people on the whole in very good
humour with my lectures -- and they really should be, for I took great
pains with them." Ruskin adds a postscript: "I have written to my father
to consult with him about publishing my lectures. Edmunton (?) wanted to
do it here, but I wish I should never leave W. Smith -- as long as he
was not tired of me."
With an auction description of this copy from 1925 tipped to the front pastedown. Contents clean; letter with some splitting along one fold but intact. Binding rubbed along front hinge, covers tight. Near Fine.
George Smith (1824-1901), son of the founder of the publishing firm Smith, Elder, and Co., took over for his father in 1846, publishing many of Ruskin's major works. (#020205) $2,500.
More info: SESAME AND LILIES with an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED
CHARLES AGVENT: Rare Books and Autographs
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