Books

Frontis (4 frontis, Vol. 3 frontis is a foldout), 6.5 x 4", full leather, gilt ruled decorative blindstamping, spine with gilt dec and lettering, xliv, errata, 317; vii, 346; xi, 338; viii, 331. Covers rubbed, scuffed/scraped, spines well worn, spine tips chipped, Volumes I & II spines torn at top, outer front hinge cracked on all volumes, ink name and inscription in contemporary hand, scattered light spotting else very good condition. Textblocks tight. Vol. I: The name "Alice M. Coleridge Ge__ 1863" and the inscription, in a different hand "George Fredk Coleridge in memory of Alice Mary Coleridge, who fell asleep at Henfield Feb 12th 1907". Alice Mary Coleridge, daughter of Francis George Coleridge, was born in 1846 in Ottery St. Mary, East Devon, England where a large contingent of the Coleridge family lived. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was also born in this town, possibly Alice's great uncle. She was raised by her older sister Harriet and Harriet's husband Edward Clarke Lowe who was the headmaster of Hurstpierpoint College where Mary was educated. It was unusual for a women to attend a male educational institution at that time. Alice became a strong promoter of education for girls and played a large role in establishing Abbots Bromley School For Girls. The name belonging to the inscription, George Frederick Coleridge, may have been one of her innumerable cousins, not her father or a brother. Additionally, William Wordsworth also had a connection with the Coleridge family, he was good friends with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Great association piece. FIRST EDITION.

Published in 1807, 'Poems, in Two Volumes' includes some of Wordsworth's most famous shorter poems, including 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'.