SESAME AND LILIES with an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) to his Publisher by Ruskin tipped in
London: George Allen, Sunnyside, Orpington, 1896. Eleventh Edition. Hardcover. Full gilt-decorated green morocco by Hatchard, gilt dentelles with marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. With an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by Ruskin to George Smith tipped in at the front. In full: "I am thoroughly ashamed at not having answered -- I believe I did not -- your kind letter about Mr. Rich.-- I never meant to say that Mr. Rich had done his work badly, but only that I think I can do [?] little bit better -- and shall be very grateful to you if you will let me do so. I have been delayed by a little cold in finishing my [?] of lectures but hope to do so next week, and to have leisure for everything. You see I am getting my [?] of letters looked over today. I think you will find the Edinburgh people on the whole in very good humour with my lectures -- and they really should be, for I took great pains with them." Ruskin adds a postscript: "I have written to my father to consult with him about publishing my lectures. Edmunton (?) wanted to do it here, but I wish I should never leave W. Smith -- as long as he was not tired of me." With an auction description of this copy from 1925 tipped to the front pastedown. Contents clean; letter with some splitting along one fold but intact. Binding rubbed along front hinge, covers tight. Near Fine. Item #020205
George Smith (1824-1901), son of the founder of the publishing firm Smith, Elder, and Co., took over for his father in 1846, publishing many of Ruskin's major works.
Price: $2,500.00