Songs & Verses Selected from the Works of Edmund Waller.
South Harting, Sussex: The Pear Tree Press, 1902. One of 300 copies. Numerous initials and decorations by Pickford Waller. Small stain at foot of spine, neat calligraphic inscription on front free endpaper (“To R.B.F. from W.B. 1924.”). A remarkably nice copy of a fragile book, in the original glassine dust jacket. Glassine chipped and torn. Laid in is an original sheet of stationery from the Pear Tree Press, signed “compliments J.G. [James Guthrie]”. Natural linen over gray paper boards, printed paper label on front cover. Small octavo. 33 pp. Item #17247
This is the fourth book of the Pear Tree Press, though only the second printed there. (The first two were printed at the Old Bourne Press.) The illustrator is Pickford Waller (1873-1921), a descendant of Edmund Waller (1606-87). Pickford Waller worked in Pimlico and was a friend of James McNeil Whistler, and patronized many artists including S.H. Sime. He practiced the decoration of manuscript and extra-illustrated books with his own initial letters (Houfe, p. 489).
Ransome, Private Presses, p. 376, no. 4.
Price: $400.00