THE ODES OF HORACE

195 x 117 mm. (7 1/2 x 4 1/2"). xxxiii, [3], 368 pp. Very pleasing deep green cross-grain morocco by Hayday (stamp-signed on the front free endpaper), raised bands, spine with gilt lettering, covers double ruled with floral cornerpieces, gilt-tooled turn-ins, all edges gilt. Attractive historiated headpieces and tailpieces throughout, with floriated capitals beginning each poem. Ink ownership inscription of Frederick George Banbury, dated Easter 1863. Corners negligibly bumped and rubbed, but the binding especially lustrous and generally very nice. Endpapers a bit foxed, affecting adjacent pages, otherwise quite clean and fresh internally. Scottish lawyer and writer Sir Theodore Martin (1816-1909) produced a variety of works throughout his career, which included poetry, plays, and translations, along with a biography of Prince Albert commissioned by Queen Victoria. This translation of Horace's Odes, initially published in 1860, is described by DNB as "more fluent than scholarly." Despite (or perhaps because of) this, the translation went into a second edition the following year, and was additionally released in an American edition. Our copy is of this second English edition, and has the ownership inscription of politician and businessman Frederick George Banbury, first Baron Banbury of Southam (1850-1936), Conservative Member of Parliament and animal welfare activist, serving as chairman of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. One of the most prominent and productive English binders of the 19th century, James Hayday (1796-1872) first appeared in the London directories in 1825, and a dozen years later, he was employing a staff of between 30 and 40, including 10 finishers. He was known for his decorative work, using high quality leather and being very liberal with gilt embellishment. The present binding is obviously more plain than decorative, but, like all Hayday volumes, this one is covered with high quality leather that has been worked with expert hands. …