LE GALLIENNE, Richard.
The Book-Bills of Narcissus: An Account Rendered.
Tipped to the front paste-down is an interesting ALS, 4 pp., 8vo, 12 November 1891, to the book’s publisher, Murray. Le Gallienne demonstrates both bibliophily and self-regard in a detailed discussion about the binding for this book, particularly his specification for a frame, or “shield” around the spine title: “I said ‘J.M. Barrie’ shield because his books have been rather conspicuously bound in buckram, with a square shield … of course Stevenson really set the fashion … I would much prefer my name in full. This could easily be done by having my Christian name in smaller type above my surname. The latter, having a prefix, looks odd by itself” (he got the shield, but not the first name, by the way). He also hopes that he will not be forgotten in the distribution of large paper copies and mentions his Guernsey roots.
Binding a little shaken, and text block loose in the binding with wear at head and foot of spine and corners and front joint splitting. Letter in very good condition.
