Life & Progress [with five other booklets: "Stray Verses", Light & Shade", Starry Fields", "Opening Buds & Falling Leaves", and "Tut-Ahnk-Amen and Other Poems"

Six poetry booklets by English-born Browne (1853-1891) who was a businessman, amateur astronomer and actor, and poet. Each booklet in original coloured paper wrappers sewn individually with silk cord, with a blue ribbon connecting all booklets. Each is 16 pp., all are undated except for Starry Fields, dated 1929 in library catalogues. Individual descriptions as follows:" Life and Progress": in pale green wrappers with blue lettering and Tennyson quote on cover, with slip tipped onto p. 1. "Christmas 1933 . from Mrs. J. Stark Browne", some pages lightly foxed." Stray Verses": in red wrappers with black lettering and Shakespeare quote on front, also with Christmas slip from Mrs. Browne, 1931, on p. 1; a few marks on p. 1 and 2. "Light & Shade": in dark green wrappers with Swinburne quote on front, Christmas 1932 slip on p. 1, no marks or foxing. "Starry Fields": in pale blue wrappers with Shakespeare quote on front, photograph (author's name in pencil on verso) tipped onto p. 2, some foxing to pages. "Opening Buds & Falling Leaves": in original grey wrappers with Biblical quote on front, inscribed by author and with his address label on title page (Boxhill-on-Sea, Sussex), and also with a b&w photograph of a family glued inside front cover and a 2-page holograph letter from Bessie Browne to "Mrs. Cullier" loosely inserted; title page slightly marked, v. light foxing to some pages. "Tut-Ahkh-Amen and Other Poems": in original brown wrappers with Shakespeare quote on front, Christmas slip from Mrs. Browne, 1930, sewn into centrefold; pages lightly foxed, white mark (glue?) on title page, and with typescript copy of final poem ("Menin Gate") tipped inside back cover, and two holograph poems loosely inserted. Overall condition of the pamphlets is very good, some fading, sunning and light wear to covers, some reading wear to interior. Scarce.…