BOOK COLLECTORS' NOTES.
[This is the first of a series of monthly articles intended to interest book collectors and having special reference to the work of the First Edition Club.] THE First Edition Club exists to foster a love of fine books. It is not confined to the narrow implications of its name, and its members include collectors of modern " press " books, choice bindings, manuscripts, ancient books, modern first -editions, illustrated books, topographical and typographical books, sporting books—in a phrase, its members are book collectors, though of many kinds.
The lack of a centre of activity has been felt for many years by book collectors in this country. The United States have their magnificent Grolier Club, their Society of Biblio- philes, Club of Odd Volumes, Caxton Club and many others, while not a single similar society has existed here. The American stimulus has been denied to this country. It is true that we have the admirable Bibliographical Society, but this is highly specialized and has no home. What collec- tors need is a central authority which can protect their interests, settle disputed points, act as a clearing house for information, and in general be to book collecting what the Portland Club is to Bridge. The First Edition Club is to become such a centre. Not a hundred yards from the home of first editions, the British Museum, it has a very pleasant club house, an old Georgian building worthy of its objects, where special publications will be issued and where there will be loan exhibitions, dinners and discussions.
The first loan Exhibition was held at the end of 1922, and a bibliographical catalogue of the exhibits, 150 pp. in length, was privately printed for the members. Since then, by the kindness of Mr. Charles Whibley, the club has printed for the first time an article of some importance, written by William Hazlitt (noticed on p. 568 of this issue).
This month an exhibition of the first editions of books
by W. B. Yeats is to be held, arranged by Sir Lucas King, C.S.I. Mr. Yeats' first book, now of extreme rarity, is a slim volume entitled Mosada : a Dramatic Poem, printed at Dublin in 1886. Mr. Yeats has written over forty books. All these will be shown, and it is hoped to issue a biblio- graphical catalogue which will contain full collations of all the first editions. A bibliography was compiled in 1908 by Mr. Allan Wade, but this is now out of date and of little use to collectors. If any reader of these notes has, or can obtain, a copy of a pamphlet entitled : " Is the Order of R. R. and A. C. to remain a Magical Order ? " privately printed at Dublin in 1901, I would regard it as a great favour if I might
be allowed to examine it. No copy is at present known to
exist in this country. The pamphlet, though the authorship has never been acknowledged, is attributed to Mr. Yeats. Readers of the Spectator who wish to visit the exhibition should write to the Director of the club for cards of invitation.
During May the dub will hold an exhibition cf the work of the late Claud Lovat Fraser. This will comprise all his published work—the Flying Fame books and broadsheets, his work for the Poetry Bookshop, his general book work, his bookplates and labels, Christmas and greeting cards, posters, prints and work for periodicals.
Subsequent exhibitions for which dates have not yet been
fixed include the following : Trade Cards and Bills printed before 1760, arranged by Mr. Ambrose Heal (Lord Winterton, M.P., has kindly consented to show his collection at the same time) ; Modern Press Books and Books printed by American Clubs and Societies, and (in December) Fine Bindings. Pub- lications which the club is preparing include A Select Bibliography and History of the Principal Modern Presses, Public and Private, by Coll G. S. Tomkinson ; Ten Tales, by Ambrose Bierce (never before printed in this country), and a volume on Trade Cards by Mr. Ambrose Heal.
Readers of the Spectator who are interested in the club and wish to have further particulars should write to the Director, the First Edition Club, 6 Little Russell Street, W.C.
A. J. A. SYmoNs.
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