Notes on Louis XI with some Short Extracts from Commines' "Memoirs"
London: Elziver Press for John C. Wilkins, 1878. First Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto. 48pp. Original quarter leather over brown cloth boards, gilt titling to the spine, a few small in-text illustrations. A doubly misleading volume. Although hidden behind the same two-letter pseudonym, the author of this volume is not the Irish writer George Russell (who would have been less than ten years old when the book was published) but a still unidentified individual. Similarly the book has little to do with Louis XI - although it apparently came about because the pseudonymous author had been so entranced by a theatrical performance with Henry Irving playing Louis XI that he was inspired to get out his copy of the memoires of French author and diplomat Philippe de Commines (1447-1511) and put together a selection of his favourite quote from the work, which comprise the greater part of the volume. Inscribed "To John Daniel / from the compiler" in what is presumably the "A.E.'s" hand on the half-title page. More recently from the library of British artist, writer and musician DAVID TIBET (founder of the music group Current 93) with his OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE on the first blank. An ordinary amount of shelfwear for a book this age, covers darkened, edges chafed, corners & spine ends and edges a bit bruised and chafed. Front endpaper gutter splitting, but holding firm. Pages toned by clean and unmarked. Overall a solid, VG copy of an uncommon work. Item #68477
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