Captains Courageous.
A Story of the Grand Banks.
London: Macmillan & Co., Limited, 1897 Stock Code: 121101
First UK edition, binder's presentation copy, with a calligraphic inscription in manuscript in red and black ink, "To Irene, with best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. From the bindery, December 1920", signed by George Sutcliffe beneath the inscription, to the fourth binder's blank (Sangorski having died in 1912). It is probable that this was a Christmas gift given to employees of the company; Irene worked for Sangorski and Sutcliffe for 16 years, and was the wife of Stanley Bray (1907-1995), George Sutcliffe's nephew and manager of the business from 1936. In 1989 Irene and Stanley produced a copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam based on the original plans for the infamous bejewelled Great Omar, first made by Sangorski and Sutcliffe in 1912, and sent on the RMS Titanic, sinking with the ship.
The UK edition of Captains Courageous was preceded by the US edition, released the previous month. The work was originally serialized in Pearson's Magazine between 1896 and 1897. Written while the newlywed Kipling was living in Vermont, Captains Courageous is Kipling's only novel set entirely in America.
Description
Crown octavo (185 x 121 mm). Near-contemporary blue morocco presentation binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, raised bands to spine, lettered and richly decorated with floral and anchor devices in gilt, covers tooled in gilt with a double fillet border and double ruled panel with rope-like tooling and anchor cornerpieces, gilt monogram "SS" to centre of front cover, double gilt rule to turn-ins, gilt edge roll, gauffered edges gilt.
Illustrations
Frontispiece with tissue-guard and 22 illustrations by I. W. Taber.
Condition
Spine toned, expert repair to head of spine, boards a little bowed, damp staining to head of covers. A very good copy, handsomely bound.
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