Marrin's Bookshop

Item Description

8vo. 6.25 x 4.5 inches. 287 + [1] pp. Bound in contemporary half dark blue leather over purple patterned boards with gilt block on front; spine in compartments with raised bands decorated gilt, with contrasting maroon title label, gilt. Light wear to extremities and traces of foxing on flyleaves and title page, which has crease on top right hand corner; otherwise a very good copy. Armourial bookplate, Roberti Comitis de Crewe. Romantic novel set in Brighton. William Black (1841-98) was a very popular novelist in his day, and also prolific, with over thirty published titles to his name. This is a Tauchnitz edition which appeared in the same year as the first English edition. From 1841 the German publisher, Bernhard Tauchnitz of Leipzig published their Collection of British and American authors, on which they paid royalties, for sale outside the UK only. A handsomely bound copy. From the Library of Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes Crewe, 1st Marquess of Houghton, 1858-1945, British statesman. He succeeded (1885) his father as Baron Houghton and was created Earl (1895) and later Marquess (1911) of Crewe. A Liberal, he held a succession of high offices, including those of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1892-95), Colonial Secretary (1908-10), and Secretary for India (1910-15). As Liberal leader in the House of Lords from 1908 he played an important role in securing passage of the Parliament Act of 1911, which deprived the Lords of its veto. He was later ambassador to France (1922-28).