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Hope, Laurence [Cory, Adela Florence Nicolson].
Stars of the Desert.
Publisher: William Heinemann, London;
Date of Publication: 1903
Stock Code: 8735
FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp. [8], 151, [1]. Maroon half-morocco with 5 raised bands, gilt titles to spine and decoration to compartments, and gilt ruling to edge, with vellum onlay to boards. All edges gilt; marbled endpapers; red silk place-marker. Errata slip bound-in at p. 1. An unusual fine binding of morocco and vellum combined. From the library of Hugh Cecil, Earl of Lonsdale with his large armorial bookplate to front paste-down, and ownership inscription of “W.P.” to half-title dated 1904. A little very light scattered foxing otherwise contents clean. Collection of verse by Adela Florence Nicolson Cory (1865- 1904) under her pseudonym of Laurence Hope. Best known for her poems with themes of love and loss, Cory’s first collection “The Garden of Kama” was published in America as “India’s Love Lyrics”. The binding is stamped by Bumpus of Oxford Street, but a loosely inserted printed note states that Bumpus sent their binding work to other firms such as Riviere, so this may well be a Riviere binding. Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944) is best known for his interest in sports; he donated the original Lonsdale Belts for boxing and took a keen interest in the turf and the hunting field. From 1929 he became joint editor of the Lonsdale Library of sporting books, and he founded and was first president of the Automobile Association. Near fine, save for some toning to the vellum and the extremities of the morocco. £120.00