The Dead King

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1910 . First edition. Leather. Very Good. 8" by 6". None. A leather-bound first edition of Kipling's eulogy to King Edward VII, with this particular copy hailing from the library of Kipling's literary agent, A. P. Watt and Son. First edition. In a contemporary full calf binding. From the library of A. P. Watt & A. S. Watt of A. P. Watt and Son, literary agent of Rudyard Kipling. 'The Dead King' was written as Rudyard Kipling's tribute to King Edward VII after his death on the 6th of May, 1910. The entire writing and publication time was eleven days, being published initially in The Times, The Morning Post and other newspapers on the 18th of May. This poem reads as a traditional elegy from medieval times, being an altogether touching tribute to a man who Kipling regarded as a wise and dedicated monarch who served the country well. Bound in full purple calf. Externally, generally smart, with rubbing to the extremities and spine, causing loss the the leather in places. Light bumping and loss to the leather at the head and tail of the spine. Leather lifting a little to the head of the board. Fading to the spine and extremities. The odd mark to leather. Spotting to endpapers. Internally, firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean, with the occasional spot, mainly to the first and last pages. Very Good