ECHOES FROM THE SABINE FARM

New Rochelle: Francis Wilson, 1891. FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 70 COPIES (from a total edition of 100) printed on handmade paper and signed by the publisher on limitation page. This copy unnumbered. 228 x 160 mm. (9 x 6 3/8"). 149, [3] pp.
LOVELY GREEN MOROCCO, GILT, BY THE CLUB BINDERY (stamp-signed in gilt on rear turn-in), covers elaborately decorated with gilt-rolled border, scrolling vines, and many floral tools surrounding a central purple morocco onlaid oval with the image of a jester stamped in gilt, raised bands, compartments densely gilt, gilt lettering, turn-ins with gilt scrolling pattern, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. With original upper cover and backstrip bound in at rear. Housed in a (somewhat worn) suede-lined marbled slipcase with morocco lip. With engraved title page printed in red and black, and each poem illustrated with a headpiece and a decorative initial in red and black. With publisher's ex-libris tipped onto an inserted blank; flyleaf inscribed by the publisher to John Caldwell and dated 7 February 1895; WITH AN ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT POEM WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY EUGENE FIELD dated 21 October 1895 bound in at front; colophon signed John Wilson & Son. ◆Spine slightly and evenly darkened, the usual offsetting from leather turn-ins onto endpapers, a negligible imperfection or two elsewhere, but IN VERY FINE CONDITION, the gorgeous binding unworn and with especially lustrous covers.

This special copy of Eugene Field's classically inspired poetry--finely bound and enhanced with autograph material--would have undoubtedly delighted Field himself, who, as the Poetry Foundation notes, "treasured beautiful books and had a library lined with rare and unusual volumes." Although Field (1850-95) is perhaps best known for his humorous newspaper columns and children's poetry, the present work, co-written with his brother Roswell, contains modern interpretations of the first century Roman poet Horace. This first edition was printed in a very small run by Francis Wilson (better known as the first president of the Actor's Equity Association), and the present example--a presentation copy from Wilson to Board Chairman of the Carnegie Art Galleries and Grolier Club member John Caldwell--was augmented in several special ways: it contains an original autograph poem by Field (a feature called for only in the 30 copies on Japanese vellum), the publisher's bookplate (bearing the image of a jester reading a book), and a beautiful bespoke binding (incorporating the same jester image into the cover design) by the Club Bindery. In 1895, Grolier members, along with Edwin Holden and other wealthy collectors, established the Club Bindery in order to attract European craftsmen to provide, close to home, fine quality binding work rivalling what was available abroad. The bindery was in operation until 1909, with Robert Hoe being its most influential manager and client. It provided bindings that tended to be traditional in style--though frequently with elaborate decoration--and that lived up to its patrons' expectations in terms of excellence. The first members of the staff of the Club Bindery were the Englishmen R. W. Smith and Frank Mansell, who were subsequently joined by several French binders, chief among them being Leon Maillard, who had worked previously for Cuzin, Gruel, and Marius Michel. Although there are no other bookplates in the present work (besides that of the publisher, as noted), we know that this volume was later in the collection of another Grolier club member, David Allen Fraser (1911-2003). A history of esteemed custodianship explains why this volume remains in outstanding condition..