Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/180

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NOTES AND QUERIES, [n s. xn. AUG. 28, ins.

Messrs. Maggs's first edition of ' Jane Eyre,' offered for 321. 10s., constitutes a considerable ^treasure for admirers of the Brontes ; but it is, perhaps, surpassed in interest by two copies of the original ' Poems ' by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, printed by Aylott & Jones in its first issue : one from the library ot " Mark Rutherford" (o'2L 10s.), the other Charlotte Bronte's own copy, with her name written therein by her own hand (120Z.). A specimen of the microscopic printing-hand used by Charlotte as a girl, in a MS. mentioned by Mrs. Gaskell, is also in the possession of Messrs. -Maggs, and offered for 2QL

The Brownings also are best illustrated in "Messrs. Maggs's catalogues. This firm have acquired a number of valuable books from the library of the poets in Florence as well as first editions and autographs. We may mention the author's copy of ' Bells and Pomegranates ' (1051.), the copy of ' Men and Women ' given by the author to his wife (65Z.), Mrs. Browning's ' Odys- sey ' (18Z. 18s.) and Xenophon's ' Memorabilia ' (121. 12s.), and first editions of ' Dramatic Idyls ' (26L) and ' Dramatis Persona? ' (251.).

Of Carlyle we have not seen a great deal, but we noticed in Mr. Francis Edwards's catalogue a first edition of 'The French Revolution' (21.), .and in Messrs. Maggs's Carlyle's copy of the first Catalogue of the London Library, which, interest- ing though it is, seems dear enough at 10Z. 10s.

An attractive Dickens item is the complete set -of first issues of the original editions of the Christmas books described in Mr. Francis Ed- wards's catalogue. These are in five volumes bound by Riviere and offered for 4=21. Messrs. Rimell have a set of the novels, all but two being first editions, in 14 vols., to be had for 24Z. Messrs. Maggs have two good presentation copies of first editions bearing Dickens 's autograph : a 'Pickwick' (210Z.) and a 'Nicholas Nickleby' (100Z.). Still better is another ' Nicholas Nickleby ' in the first edition, belonging to the same firm, which has inserted in it four of the original sepia drawings made as illustrations by Phiz (150Z.).

Messrs. Maggs are the booksellers who at the present moment have the most considerable collection of George Eliot's works, their most interesting item being a first edition of ' Scenes of Clerical Life,' which has inserted in it an auto- graph letter signed " Marian Lewes," chiding rather bitterly John Chapman for carelessness in nearly betraying the authorship of the book. A pleasant Kingsley item is Messrs. Dobell's first edition of ' The Water Babies ' in its original cover (1Z. Is.), and we noticed that Messrs. Baker of Birmingham offer for the same price a first edition of ' The Heroes.' Of Meredith Messrs. Dobell have a first edition of 'Modern Love,' for which they are asking 3Z. 3s. ; and Messrs. Maggs have another copy of this and also an ' Ordeal of Richard Feverel ' (9Z. 15s.). Of Coventry Patmore we have not seen much, but we may mention Messrs. Baker's first edition of ' The Angel in the House ' ('The Betrothal') (1Z. Is.), and Messrs. Dobell's first edition of the 'Poems' (21. 2s.). Rogers turns up in Messrs. Baker's catalogue and also in Messrs. Rimell's, the most interesting volume described being in the former a copy of the first edition of ' Italy,' presented as a prize to W. E. Aytoun by the Edinburgh Academical Club for a poem on Poland (4Z. 10s.). William George's Sons

of Bristol have a first edition of Ruskin's ' Seven Lamps of Architecture,' of which some of our readers may be glad to know, the price being only

JLr. J.O5.

Under Rossetti, Swinburne, and Tennyson, we have marked several good things which want of space prevents our mentioning in detail. We must not, however, omit to draw the notice of students of Thackeray both to the fact that there are several first editions of his minor works described in current catalogues, and to Messrs. Maggs's description of Fitzgerald's Scrap-Book of Thackeray Material now in their possession, for which they are asking 1,500Z.

We will conclude with an item from Messrs. Sotheran's catalogue which should prove of interest to any collector who aims at works giving a general view of the manners of a period a set, namely, of Bentley's ' ' Standard Novels and Romances," in 124 vols. (1831-54), to be had for 30Z.

Our next article will be on Theology, with especial reference to works (not solely to editions of these) dating from the pre-Reforma- tion period.

ices t0

H. AUSTIN LEE. Forwarded to MR. PENRY LEWIS.

H. ! S. BRANDRETH. " Victrix causa dels placuit," &e. Lucan, i. 128.

A correspondent of ' N. & Q.' has acquired a single volume (V. Bicheno-Bottisham)of the first edition of the ' D.N.B.' from a parcel of second- hand books. Any one having a set from which vol. v. is alone missing is invited to communicate with the Editor, who will transmit his letter to the correspondent in question.

MR. GEORGE W. WAINE, of St. Mary's Schools, Newington Butts, S.E., writes: " Newington (Surrey), including Walworth, Blackman Street, Kent Street, Horsemongerland, c. If any of your contributors have notes, transcripts, plans, or information in any way concerning the above parish, which they would be willing to lend for material for its history, the same would be grate- fully received."

Miss WAUGH. " Boche " has been a good deal and recently discussed in our columns (see 11 S. x. 367, 416, 454, 495, and xi. 78). The correct spelling is " boche," and no connexion with Ger- man seems to be made out. " Boche," or more fully "tete de boche," is a slang term =blockhead ; the word itself in the patois of Marseilles being used for a ball. This is one suggested origin. Others prefer to explain " boche " as a contrac- tion for " Alboche." This latter word is some generations old, and is explained as either derived from " Allemand " and " caboche " (tete), or as the product of the well-known popular trick of making slang by affixing a given syllable to words or parts of words. " Allemand " by this process would have become " Alleboche." The correspon- dents of our contemporary L' Intermediaire do not seem, to have arrived at anything " definitive " on the subject.