Title

London Lyrics: album of illustrations and letters relating to an extra-illustrated copy, 1883.

Physical Description

1 v. (ca. 65 leaves) : ill. ; 26 cm.

Historical/Biographical Note

Locker-Lampson was an English poet and bibliophile, best known for the various editions of his London Lyrics published between 1857 and 1909. In 1883 the Book Fellow’s Club of New York, an informal group of half a dozen bibliophiles, published an edition of London Lyrics with the poet’s approval. Book Fellow Valentin A. Blacque, a business man and amateur artist, created an extra-illustrated copy of this edition for himself.

Scope and Contents

Album containing illustrations and letters relating to Valentin A. Blacque’s extra-illustrated copy of the 1883 edition of London Lyrics. The contents include: original drawings by George Bowlend; photomechanically reproduced drawings for head and tail pieces by Kate Greenaway and Bowlend; and an etching of Locker-Lampson after a painting by George Du Maurier. Also: nine ALS tipped in, including seven from Blacque to Frederick Locker-Lampson; one from Edmund C. Stedman in which he introduces Blacque to Locker-Lampson; and one from the printer, Theodore Low De Vinne, to Blacque enclosing a set of sheets of the Book Fellow’s edition for his approval.

General Note

Bookplate of Locker-Lampson, from a design by Kate Greenaway, is pasted to front endpaper.

Provenance

Locker-Lampson’s “Rowfant Library” was sold to an American bookseller in 1905 and subsequently dispersed. John A. Penton eventually acquired this album and donated it to the Grolier Club in 1936.

Location of Associated Materials

The extra-illustrated copy of the 1883 edition of London Lyrics is part of the Valentin A. Blacque collection at the New York Public Library, 5^th Avenue and 42^nd Street, New York, N.Y.

Local Note

This album forms part of the John A. Penton Locker-Lampson collection at the Grolier Club.

Names

Locker-Lampson, Frederick, 1821-1895. Correspondence.

Locker-Lampson, Frederick, 1821-1895. London Lyrics. 1883.

Locker-Lampson, Frederick, 1821-1895, former owner.

Blacque, Valentin A. Correspondence.

Bowlend, G. B., ill.

De Vinne, Theodore Low, 1828-1914. Correspondence.
Du Maurier, George, 1831-1896, ill.

Greenaway, Kate, 1846-1901, ill.

Stedman, Edmund Clarence, 1833-1901. Correspondence.

Penton, John A., d. 1940, former owner.

Book Fellow’s Club (New York, N.Y.)

Subjects

Poets, English. 19th century.

Book collectors. New York (State). New York. 19^th century.

Genres

Albums. England. 19^th century.

Occupation (as reflected in collection)

Poets, English. 19^th century.

Book collectors. England. 19^th century.

Location

Grolier Club, 47 East 60^th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022-1098.