Rare Indulgences!

Andrea here, I’ve been thinking about the last few months, and how stressful it’s been for all of us in so many ways. The need to shelter at home has cut us off from so many daily pleasures—meeting up with friends for drinks or dinner . . . visiting a museum . . . treating oneself to a little shopping. So I am deeming myself deserving of a splurge. And it should come as no surprise that books are involved!

Viking Cruise Line, a sponsor of PBS’s Masterpiece Theater, has been offering a video channel on culture and the arts for us to enjoy some virtual travels and lectures . . .and among the recent fun offerings was an interview with the Duke of Devonshire by his son-in-law, who owns Heywood Hill, one of Britain’s most famous rare book emporiums. (You can see it here)

Now, of course, I couldn’t resist taking a virtual visit to Heywood Hill. (Oh, how I miss real-life London!) And what do I find—a carefully curated list of 80 fun bibliographic treasures, specially chosen to lift the spirits during the pandemic! (You can see the full selection here.) So, I’ve opened my virtual checkbook—because money is no object when one is drooling (of course not literally) over such a fabulous array of goodies! However, I’ve exercised great restraint and haven’t gobbled up all them, but have chosen just a few that really tickle my fancy:

Album of Ring Designs c1950s: A portfolio of 90 ring designs, all depicted in actual size. Drawings in pencil and watercolour on various coloured cards, inserted at corners into album leaves, separated by patterned glassine tissue guards.

The ring designs are stylistically similar, probably from the 1930s through to 1950s, with many variations of stone settings and signet rings and some with a distinctly Art Deco quality. The album was possibly a compilation of designs, either put together by a jeweller or workshop, or by a collector, rather than a presentation album for prospective clients. Several of the intricate drawings have pencil annotations (possibly Eastern European in origin?), the numerical annotations likely referring to either size or price. £1,200

Paris: 6 Vues: Palais de Justice; Hotel-de-Ville; Notre-Dame; Place de l’Opera; Place du Carrousel; Place de la Concorde. [Paris, Mazerand] [c.1890]
Six chromolithographic ‘pop up’ scenes recreating famous Parisian locations, each enclosed in a printed card folder 190 x 205 mm (7. x 8 ins.). Presented in the original printed card box decorated to the lid with the coat of arms of Paris, and with ‘Ch. Arnal’ to printed border lower right. £3,995.

Jane Austen—The Novels and Letters: Edited by R. Brimley Johnson with an introduction by William Lyon Phelps. John Grant Edinburgh, 1911; The Winchester Edition in 12 volumes. 8vo., original green cloth with gilt titles and foliate decoration to the spines, top edges gilt, others uncut. Titles printed in red and black. A very good set. Frontispiece portrait of Jane Austen to volume one. £995.

Electric Refrigerator Menus and Recipes by Miss Alice Bradley: Recipes specially prepared for the General Electric Refrigerator. General Electric Company. Cleveland, 1927. First edition with 29 colour illustrations and 2 photographs which show decomposition of fruits outside and inside a refrigerator, delicate ornaments and borders in blue throughout on the theme of icicles.

Alice Bradley was principal of Miss Farmer’s School of Cookery and Cooking editor of the magazine ‘Woman’s Home Companion’. She embraces the refrigerator eagerly, including recipes for various occasions including afternoon bridge where she recommends salad in aspic jelly and raspberry ice cream sandwiches and, more successfully, some excellent party menus for children. £95.

“The owning of such a refrigerator is a form of health and happiness insurance . . . it requires no attention, not even oiling . . .”

“On Me” Play your favourite Cocktail Game: House of Gadgets Inc New York, [n.d.] 9 panel linen backed black and white game sheet with cartoon illustrations depicting different cocktails. Small hole to one panel, a little rubbing, generally a very good example. The central panel gives a clue to the game. “When “On Me” appears on dial, banker takes all checks and player on number shown on dial becomes banker.” Sadly we do not have the dial for the game. (That's okay—after several martinis we'll make up our own rules!) £395

Grand Panorama of London and the River Thames: Extending from the New Houses of Parliament to Greenwich Hospital. Charles, Evans, et al. London, 1849. Uncoloured wood-engraved panoramic view of the North bank of the Thames, printed on on six conjoined sheets and folding concertina-style into the publisher's blindstamped cloth boards (oblong 8vo.). The title printed in red and mounted on to the front pastedown, and repeated over a blocked vignette of St Paul’s Cathedral in gilt to upper board. Sheet 150 x 4860 mm fully extended. £995

The British Herbal: An History of Plants and Trees, Natives of Britain, Cultivated for use, or Raised for Beauty. Printed for T. Osborne and J. Shipton in Gray's Inn...&c. London, 1756. First edition - the botanist George Claridge Druce's copy with his bookplate. With another bookplate with monogram GOM. Neat contemporary ink name at head of title-page. £1,500.

So, now that I’ve had my fun, which book treasures would you buy to keep yourself happy during these stressful times? Remember, money is no object since we’re living so much of our lives in virtual reality. It can be from the Heywood Hill list, or any book treasure for which you've been longing. (I would add to my choices above a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer, designed by William Morris, which is considered the most beautiful book ever printed.) So have some fun!

Comments

[Nicola Cornick]

Oh, what a wonderful discovery, Andrea! Thank you so much for sharing the Heywood Hill bibliographic treasures with us. I'm going away to indulge myself in a browse and will definitely be splurging my virtual savings on all kinds of wonderful books!I love the ring designs and as for the Electric refrigerator Menus and Recipes... That's an absolute must!

[Quantum]

I would love to have an original copy of William Morris's first fantasy novel 'The Story of the Glittering Plain'. It is also the first book published by Morris's Kelmscott press in 1891. I read a second hand paperback edition many years ago and became hooked on Morris's romantic fantasy. It would be a supreme indulgence to stroke the original vellum, and admire the hand made paper, pictorial title page with ornamental borders and Wood cut initials. It is available at a bargain price of £3,750.00 :
https://www.jonkers.co.uk/rare-book/4554/the-story-of-the-glittering-plain/william-morris

The complete set of original fantasy novels would be even better!

[Andrea Penrose]

So glad you enjoyed it, Nicola. Any book lift the spirits, but the wonderful collection curated by Heywood Hill are a particular delight. Isn't the refrigerator book description delightful! I wish I could see the illustrations and read the text. It's so fun to think about how exciting a machine that kept things cold—and could freeze stuff—was to people when it first came out. It truly did change their lives.

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, Quantum, glad to know you're also a fan of the Kelmscott Press! Aren't all their books gorgeous designs and beautiful materials! The fantasy novels are new to me, but look absolutely wonderful. I have a facsimilie edition by Dover Press of The Lady of the Lake, which is a Morris book on the Arthurian legend. The illustrations are spectacular. I, too, would love to actually touch the pages and smell the ink!

[Christina Courtenay]

What a wonderful selection! I too like the ring drawings, so pretty! I collect Georgette Heyer first editions and would love to have some of the really early ones. They are very expensive and hard to get hold of. There's a copy of Royal Escape here https://www.peterharrington.co.uk/royal-escape-91213.html with a wonderful dustjacket. £375

[Andrea Penrose]

Glad you enjoyed the list, Christina! (But honestly, talking about rare books here is like dangling sweets in front of toddlers!)

How fun that you collect Heyer first edition. A wonderful choice. And I love the dust jacket of Royal Escape!

[Kareni]

What a fun post, Andrea! I'll spend my virtual dollars to purchase the Etruscan gold book. It's considered the world's oldest book; it's composed of six gold pages. Here's a link ~ https://www.foreigner.bg/the-worlds-oldest-book-was-found-in-bulgaria/amp/

[Andrea Penrose]

Oh, what a fabulous "book", Kareni! I've never that before, but it's amazing! Thanks so much for sharing. (You have spent your loot wisely!)

[Binnie Syril Braunstein]

Andrea - I'm a longtime member of a group of book collectors called The Baltimore Bibliophiles. I'm sure your post will interest them, particularly as we are all starved for physical (as well as virtual) glimpses into the book world. I took the liberty of forwarding your column to my fellow members; I'm sure they will enjoy it as much as I did. BTW - in addition to reading and amassing piles of romance books, I'm an avid collector of editions of Beauty and the Beast in all its forms. Thanks so much for this delightful post!

[Sue McCormick]

Since I'm trying to downsize our collection of physical books, I won't indulge in any of these! (Anyway, I'm not a collector; I'm an amasser!)

But the refrigerator book caught my eye because it was published in 1927; my birth year. 92 years seems rather olld for a person; on the other hand it makes refrigerators seem very young!

[Jenny Wilcox]

I would love to have a complete collection of Georgette Heyer's first editions (that was my first thought). Then I went through the Heywood Hill list and virtually spent 8,140 pounds starting with the Ian Fleming Collection (6,000) and then only adding another 3 items, including the Jane Austen works for a mere 995 pounds. BG
What fun! It is so nice to dream, and necessary, as well, for us to maintain our mental health. Thank you for your article, Andrea.

[Constance]

Heywood Hill is a treasure chest, and how appropriate that it is located on Curzon Street, home to so many romance heroes. First on my list would be the Jane Austen works, but a close second is the beautiful set of George Eliot's works--not perhaps the liveliest choice for quarantine reading, though! I am also attracted to the View of the Rotundo House & Gardens at Ranelagh by Canaletto, but would prefer to have a glimpse of it before putting down my cash! While much less costly than any of Heywood's offerings, I consider my mother's set of first editions of Elswyth Thane's Williamsburg series to be priceless. And when I win the lottery, the Kelmscott Chaucer might join them!

[Andrea Penrose]

SO glad you enjoyed it, Binnie! And thanks for sharing with your fellow Bibliophiles! I love looking at lists like this one and fantasizing about having some of the treasures on my shelf to pick up and revel in.

What an interesting choice for collecting. Very fun!

[Andrea Penrose]

LOL, Sue.And both you and the fridge keep getting better!

[Andrea Penrose]

Jenny, the Ian Fleming collection was REALLY tempting! Yes, it's to look at lists k like this one. SO many wonderful book treasures in the world to admire!

[Annette N]

First, thanks for the Post.....everything you showed me is lovely. Liked the rings very much. Would love to have the Jane Austen collection and the London panorama. But, I think would really like best the plants. On my own, would like to find an original Agatha Christie with her autograph....actually would love to speak to her, but reckon that might be beyond even any virtual money amount.

Thanks again. Hope everyone is staying safe and taking care.

[Andrea Penrose]

Yes, Constance, isn't Heywood Hill wonderful! I, too, wanted to see the Canaletto before I wrote my (virtual) check, but I'm sure it's fabulous.

I'm with you on what I'd spend lottery winning on—The Kelmscott Chaucer would be my first splurge.

[Andrea Penrose]

Annette, an autographed Agatha Christie would be a real treasure! But you're right, a chat might be beyond any price point ! (But her words live forever on the page!)

Glad you enjoyed the list.