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A remarkable collection of scarce works by influential Australian poet and critic Frederick T. Macartney (1887-1980), four of which signed, all in notably bright condition. Macartney was a noted critic across the early 20th century. He "valued his poetry far above his other literary endeavours and was a craftsman, ranging diversely from philosophy to light satire, with wit and irony; friendly critics admired his 'vigorous imagery' and 'intellectual subtlety'" (Australian Dictionary of Biography). As a young man he was identified as rationalist and an anti-conscriptionist, was a Fabian member of the Victorian Socialist Party, and in 1916 was a founder of the Melbourne Literary Club. Collection consisting of: i) Dewed Petals. Melbourne: privately printed, 1912. Octavo. Original green paper wrappers, titles to front cover in black. Paper and spine disintegrated. First edition, sole printing, of the authors first collection of poetry, signed and dated by the author on the colophon. The print run is unclear but believed to be between 150 and 270 copies. ii) Poems. Melbourne: Sydney J. Endacott, [1920]. Octavo. Original brown boards, titles in black to front cover. First edition, first impression. iii) A Sweep of Lute-strings, being the title excusing a very few love-rhymes. Melbourne: printed at the Galleon Press for private circulation by the author, 1929. Small quarto. Original cloth bound boards, titles on blue paper label to front board. First edition, one of 100 copies only, signed and hand-bound by the author. iv) Hard Light and other verses. Surrey Hills, Victoria: The Galleon Press, 1934. Octavo. Original green cloth-backed boards, titles and linocut by the author printed in black to front cover. With 6 linocuts by the author tipped-in as issued. First edition, sole printing. v) Gaily the Troubadour. Melbourne: the Anvil Press, 1946. Octavo. Original grey cloth-backed yellow boards, titles within linocut design by the author printed in brown to front board. First edition, first printing, inscribed by the author to fellow author Peter Hopegood on the front free endpaper, "To Peter Hopegood, with regards, Frederick T. Macartney". vi) Tripod for Homeward Incense. Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1947. Octavo. Original brown cloth-backed patterned paper boards, titles and linocut designed by the author in brown on paper label to front cover. With two linocuts by the author. First edition, first impression. Inscribed by the author to noted author and lawyer Kenneth Gifford on the front free endpaper, "For Kenneth Gifford, with best wishes Frederick T. Macartney, 1952". vii-x) A complete set of the Bulldozer Booklets (The Increased Price of Liberty; An Odious Comparison: considered in its relation to Australian Literature; A Noticeable Man: a biographical sketch of Ross Mallam; Carols of Can't and Won't: with suitable accompaniments and prefatory indications for a new rhyming dictionary). Melbourne: [privately printed], 1955-8. Octavo. Original pale green wrappers, staple-bound as issued, titles printed to front covers in black. First editions, sole printings. R. I. D. Mallam, a respected judge, was a close friend of Macartney's and at his death left Macartney his modest estate. Together 10 works, octavo and small quarto. Variously original cloth, cloth-backed boards, and paper wrappers. Occasional faint toning and rubbing to board edges, a little sporadic foxing, loss to spine of Dewed Petals; the collection remaining in very good and attractive condition.
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