1912, Alice Meynell, Mary Mother of Jesus - An Essay; deals Illustrated by R. Anning Bell, R.W.S.; First Edition

MEYNELL, Alice / Illustrated by R. Anning Bell, R.W.S. MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS: AN ESSAY. London: Philip Lee Warner, 1912. 1st edition. pp. vii, 143.,4to,,Bound in original gilt-lettered blue cloth over bevelled boards, On the inside of the front board has been attached a lengthy newspaper article (now a bit yellowed) entitled: 'Alice Meynell: Some Thoughts and a Memory.' Laid-in loose are two more newspaper articles; one is an obituary about Sir Charles Fitzpatrick and the other is a news story about Fitzpatick being sworn in as a Minister in the cabinet of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Tabbed on to the front free endpaper is a ALS with the printed address of 240 Daly Avenue, Ottawa. It is dated 10.1.14 and is signed by Fitzpatrick, and deals addressed to his brother Denis. It reads: 'I send you this life of 'Mary Mother of Jesus' to be kept in memory of our mother whose devotion to the Blessed Virgin is so well known to both of us. This book is written by a friend of mine. Faithfully [signature]'. Presumably the 'friend' to whom Fitzpatick referred was the famous English poet and author Alice Meynell. The cloth is a bit spotted and scuffed. The bottom edge of the text block is spotted. The front hinge is a bit weak (but holding) and the front free endpaper is partially detached. There is occasional foxing to the contents, but it is generally not untoward. The Englishman, Robert Anning Bell (1863-1923), was a noted and successful artist, illustrator, and book designer. Alice Meynell (1847-1922) was an English writer, editor, critic, and suffragist, now remembered mainly as a poet. Sir Charles Fitzpatrick (1851-1942) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the fifth Chief Justice of Canada. In 1885, he acted as counsel for Louis Riel, who was eventually hanged in Regina for treason. Hardcover.

Printed at the Chiswick Press and published for the Medici Society by Philip Lee Warner. (9900045001) $65.00 USD.