Sloane, Eugene ABiblio.com
Somerville, Edith ŒBiblio.com
THE COMPLETE SET OF FOUR HAND-COLORED PRINTS ILLUSTRATING INCIDENTS IN THE "IRISH R.M." BOOKS. Numbered and signed in pencil "E. Œ. Somerville" lower right and HAND COLORED BY SOMERVILLE HERSELF
1929266325New York: The Derrydale Press 1929. No. 4 of only 50 sets. 1 vols. Plate size 13-1/4 x 17 inches. Matted framed and glazed. No. 4 of only 50 sets. 1 vols. Plate size 13-1/4 x 17 inches. "It has been said that in Ireland the inevitable never happens and the impossible invariably occurs."<br /> Edith Œnone Somerville 1858-1949 with her cousin Violet Martin 1862-1915 embarked on a notable women's literary collaboration and wrote under the name of Somerville & Ross. Their series of admirable tales of Irish life some humorous some tragic captures the flavor of rural life and everywhere demonstrates their sensitivity to distinctively Irish turns of phrase. Among their best-loved stories are the three books narrating incidents in the life of Major Sinclair Yeates Resident Magistrate at Skebawn. Published between 1899 and 1915 the Irish R.M. stories are filled with humor sport and deftly observed colorful character sketches. Somerville's cousin died suddenly in 1915; Somerville participated in a number of seances with medium Jem Barlow in 1916 and by the end of 1916 Somerville had resumed writing. She thereafter maintained that she was in constant communication with Violet's spirit. Somerville was also an accomplished illustrator and in the late 1920s Eugene V. Connett 3d proprietor of the Derrydale Press persuaded her to produce these illustrations from the Irish R.M. books. The limitation states 50 sets but perhaps only 30 sets were in fact colored and signed.<br /> Plate I: A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE. "Music even was not wanting to our progress and old Flynn bleating shrilly upon his horn to the hounds below became idyllic." From Further Experiences of an Irish R.M. <br /> Plate II: OCCASIONAL LICENCES. "'Every one'll say I told Slipper to open the gate' said Flurry grinning." An amusing steeplechase from Some Experiences of an Irish R.M.<br /> Plate III: PUT DOWN ONE AND CARRY TWO. "I seemed to myself merely an imbecile sitting in the heavy rain staring at a stone wall." From In Mr. Knox's Country. <br /> Plate IV: THE COMTE DE PRALINES. "The Comte de Pralines standing knee-deep in baying hounds . Miss McCrory squealed 'Yoicks'!" From In Mr. Knox's Country. <br /> PRODUCED IN A VERY SMALL LIMITATION THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE DERRYDALE PRESS SPORTING PRINTS SERIES. Ordeman pp. 49-50 "now among the most highly valued of the Derrydale prints"; Hudson p. 64 The Derrydale Press unknown
James Cummins Bookseller · États-Unis5 500,00 $US≈ 4 653,55 €
