Rusticus Pseudonym Macgregor Jenkins 1869 (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. "Bucolic Beatitudes" is a delightful collection of genial essays celebrating the beauties and pleasures of rural living. The book was published in 1925 by The Atlantic Monthly Press. This is the First Edition. MacGregor Jenkins (1869 - 1940) used the pen name of Rusticus for these essays which originally appeared in "The Atlantic Monthly" magazine. The book is graced with the fine line drawings of Decie Merwin (1894 - 1961). Things have changed tremendously from 1925, but I wager that many are the persons who dream of that far distant time (100 years ago!) and the beauties of country living. ***************************************** While "Bucolic Beatitudes" is special in its evocation of the rural past, MacGregor Jenkins is mainly remembered for his friendship with Emily Dickinson, and the books that he wrote about that friendship. Decie Merwin illustrated many books (nearly seventy) for children, several of which she, herself, authored . "Bucolic Beatitudes" was written for adults, but Decie's whimsical drawings for this book, at least to me, are reminiscent of the wonderful drawings by E. H. Shepard. **************************************** TITLE : Bucolic Beatitudes / AUTHOR : Rusticus (Pseudonym of MacGregor Jenkins, 1869 - 1940) / ILLUSTRATIONS : Decie Merwin (Emma Martine Merwin, 1894 - 1961) / IMPRINT : The Atlantic Monthly Press / PLACE : Boston / DATE : (1925) / EDITION : First Edition / DETAILS : Trade hardcover; contains line illustrations; 111 pages; approximately 5 1/8 x 7 3/4 ; finely ribbed, silk-like, sage-green cloth binding with gilt lettering on spine, and gilt lettering enclosed within an ornate oval border in black; both end-papers have been given a beautiful and densely ornate floral pattern colored in silver and gold against a sage-green background. Text-block fore-edge and bottom edge are rough-trimmed. *************************************** CONDITION VERY GOOD This is a previously owned book that remains clean and attractive, with the following particulars noted : EXTERIOR - Spine surface is slightly dulled, but gilt lettering is fairly bright; spine extremities are modestly compressed, and display a touch of abrasion; gilt lettering on front cover is bright and the oval border is not worn. The rear cover surface has some vague rub and a bit of equally vague abrasion; fore-edge corner tips are softly bumped. Text-block edges are mildly toned, else clean. / BINDING - Opens widely, but still solid - end-paper hinges are not split. / INTERIOR - The most obvious imperfection is the small loss of surface paper at the upper fore-edge corner of the front free end-paper (likely from an old price sticker) ; the paper throughout is mildly toned, else the interior is clean and free of marking. There are no signatures.