Last leaves. by SMITH (Alexander) - 1868

Sketches and criticisms, By Alexander Smith, Author of “A Life-drama,” “Dreamthorpe,” etc. etc. Edited, with a Memoir, by Patrick Proctor Alexander, M.A., Author of “Mill and Carlyle,” etc. Edinburgh: William P. Nimmo, 1868. Half-title not called for; engraved portrait frontispiece with thin paper guard of smaller paper precedes title-page; integral advertisement leaf followed by publisher’s inserted 24pp. Catalogue at end, dated ‘4.68’ at foot of first leaf; pp.cxxiii+[1 (blank)]+334+[ii]; bevelled deep cerise sand-grain cloth ruled and blocked blind on back cover, gilt on front cover, ruled, blocked, and lettered gilt on spine; a.e. uncut; end-papers coated chocolate. Printed on two different grades of paper, gatherings A - L, and N on a good quality white paper that does not tend to embrown, gatherings M and O - X, and the prelims., signed [ - ], A1, B2 - H2, on a paper that embrowns but does not tend to become brittle. (No gatherings are called for bearing the signatures A2, J, V, or W). Very slight wear to cloth at head and tail of spine; otherwise a very nice copy. Scarce. Includes essays on Scottish Ballads; Dreams and Dreaming; Mr. Carlyle at Edinburgh; Winter; Literary Work; The Minister Painter; Sydney Dobell; Essayists, Old and New; Edinburgh; etc. All books listed by Robert Temple are first editions unless otherwise stated.