Rural Walks: In Dialogues (Vol. I)

SMITH, Charlotte. (Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby)

Published by Printed by A. Strahan . for T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, London, 1800

About this Item

Fourth edition. Vol. 1 only (of two). 12mo. vi, [2], 174pp. Contemporary full green morocco, gilt spine, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Inscribed in ink, probably in the hand of one of the recipients, on verso of front free endpaper: "from Lady Eleanor Butler & Miss Ponsonby to T.B. Parker, J. Parker, M. Parker, E.S. Parker about 1810 or 12". The front cover has a few scattered tiny holes on the leather, one gathering is starting a bit, very good. A notable association copy, given as a gift from the celebrated Ladies of Llangollen (Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby) to the children of Thomas Netherton Parker and Sarah Parker of Sweeney Hall, Oswestry, Shropshire, just 12 miles distant from Llangollen. The Parker family were close friends of the Ladies, whose relationship scandalized and fascinated their contemporaries. Included among the Parker children is Mary, the future Lady Leighton and an amateur artist who secretly sketched the Ladies in 1828, making pencil drawings in a small notebook hidden under a library table. A popular contemporary lithograph of the Ladies was made after one of Mary s drawings. Another book by Charlotte Smith *Rambles Further* (1800), that was also given by the Ladies to the Parker children, with the same inscription, was recently put on display in the exhibition room at Plas Newydd, the Ladies home at Llangollen. Ladies of Llangollen blogger Janeite Kelly identified the children in a post from January 17, 2021: "'T.B. Parker,' is, we believe, Thomas Browne Parker, the eldest son of Thomas and Sarah … Second on the list 'J.' is John, the future Rev. John Parker, vicar of Llanyblodwel, dean of Llangollen, and amateur botanist, architect and artist, with over a thousand drawings in the National Library of Wales; The fourth name 'E.S.' is the Parkers daughter Elizabeth Sarah, who … in later life became a recluse and purportedly Dickens model for the character of Miss Havisham. But it is the third name, 'M. Parker,' that is particularly noteworthy. This is Mary Parker … ." Though not inscribed by the Ladies, still an important association copy, in the original morocco binding.

Seller Inventory # 539582

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Rural Walks: In Dialogues (Vol. I)
• Publisher: Printed by A. Strahan . for T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, London
• Publication Date: 1800
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Association Copies