THE SCAPEGOAT

1897. CAINE, Hall. THE SCAPEGOAT: A Romance. London: William Heinemann, 1897. Small 8vo., decorative, embossed red cloth, stamped in gilt & black. Later printing, 29th thousand- so stated on the title page. The first edition was published in 1891. An uncommon title in an early edition, this copy with the added distinction of bearing a signed presentation from Hall Caine on the front endpaper: "To Joseph Humphries [sic], from the author." With the personal bookplates of Joseph Humphreys on the front pastedown, which is also signed in ink by Henry Humphreys. The bookplate was designed by Hazel A.V. Neason and bears a motto: "My motto is Anything and Everything for a quiet life. The bookplate depicts a monkey playing the "Randall Island Waltz" by Wm. Furst (so stated on the sheet music), with an annoyed man seated and listening. Now I can't quite put this together (perhaps someone else can) but there was a Broadway director named Joseph Humphreys, a young actress by the name of Hazel Neason, and a composer named William Furst- all working during the late 1800s and early 1900s; maybe there is some connection. Neason had a very short career- born in 1891 and died in 1920. Anyway, a very good, bright copy! $175.00.