The San Francisco call., 1901-12-07
GOSSIP FROM
LONDON WORLD
OF LETTERS

Lovers of beautifully bound books are
intensely interested in the Grolier So
ciety of Great Britain, which has just
been started in Great Russell street, in
conjunction with the GrOlier Society OF
the United States.
The Crolier Society. as the name sug-
gests, is intended to supply but one com~
modify of bOOkS-that class of books only
which will meet the requirements of col
Iectors and connoisseurs who appreciate
limited editions, bold type, broad mar
gins, fine illustrations, honest paper and
artistic binding. and have always been
compelled to pay high prices for their
books.
The first set of books to be issued by the
GroIier Society will be the complete set
of the novels of Charles Lever, edited BY
the novelist's daughter, which is to ap-
pear in thfrty-seven octave volumes. to-
gether with all the original steel engrav.
fngs and etchings, over 900 in number, by
Phiz. George Cruikshanks and other we'll,
known artists
In all there are to be 400 copies 500 OF
the edition definitif' and a hundred Of
the autograph edition de luxe, extra IL
Iustrated, each copy being numbered and
registered
The binding is really superb. 1t is in
full polished calf, hand-tooled, by zalhns-
dorf. The price is 35 shillings (SS 75). I
have seen this edition. 1t is really very
fine. and. indeed, is expected in a few
years to be worth three times its present
value.
Naturally the coronation Of the King
will be an event for the poets.
OF this there are already signs That
old and well-knOwn magazine, Good
Words has invited odes on the corona
ton. and will give a first prize OF $50
(s25O) and lesser prizes for odes sent In.
No doubt there will be plenty Of them
They are to be judged by a small COM
nfttee of literary men.
hear that about a hundred different
biographies of the King and Queen are
in preparation and will see the light early
next year.
In his attitude toward the literary
world the King, I hear. is continuing ths
wholesome tradition established by Queen
Victoria. Presentation copies Of new
works which are sent by authors with a
view to self-advertisement are returned
or ignored, but the utmost consideration
is given applications for permission to
forward a copy to the Royal Library.
In these matters the Windsor librarian
and it is only he who comes in contact
with the authors in this aspect-has suit
able discretion, which he exercises. 1t is
admitted, with care and satisfaction.
Some important works are sent to the
Royal Library by their publishers under
well understood discretion exercised by
themselves, but there is no systematic
examination of new book lists with a
view to purchase.
Three of the most notable books of the
autumn publishing season are from the
pens of well-known society women.
LA Chartreuse of Parma" has been
translated by Lady Mary Lloyd, who is
aunt of Lord DonOughmore and his two
pretty artistic sisters.
Lady Mabel Howard, who wrote "The
Failure of Success is a sister of Lord
Antrim. Lady Mabel married Mr.. How
ard of Greystoke Castle, Penrith, over
twenty years ago. Husband and wife
have just been entertaining their kins-
man, Sir Redvers Butler, whose cause
they are enthusiastically championing,
and Mr.. Howard has abandoned LIBERAL
Unionism as a protest against the treat
ment meted out to the general
Mrs. Maxwell-Scotts Biography Of
Henry SchOmberg Kerr, Sailor and Jes-
uit, % might please even the critical taste
of Lord ROsebery. --....
A Scott Of Abbotsford ought to write
we'll. This authOress is one of a brilliant
family, her sisters including Lady O'Con-
nor, wife of the British ambassador at
COnstantinOple and Mrs. Winifred Ward.
whose thoughtful novel, Zone Poor
Scruple," received so much praise two or
three years ago. s4.s