[Rarebooks] Scarce Robert Browning / T.J. Wise poetry

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

Browning, Robert & Thomas J. Wise (ed.).  PAULINE: A FRAGMENT OF A 
CONFESSION.  By Robert Browning.  A Reprint of the original edition of 1833.

London; Richard Clay and Sons: 1886.
Edition limited to 400 copies.

A new edition of Robert Browning's very, very rare first work, reprinted by 
his friend, bibliographer, and (eventually) a forger of the poet's works, 
Thomas J. Wise. Thurman Hood in his 1933 book "Letters of Robert Browning, 
Collected by Thomas J. Wise", notes-

"Mr. Wise was a young worshipper at the great man's shrine. He soon became 
a friend, and, as a member of the Browning Society, often called on Sunday 
afternoons... Mr. Wise has served as central treasurer of Browning lore, 
the untiring helper of Browning biographers and scholars. The factual 
resources of his growing store of letters from the poet to various 
correspondents have never been exhausted... It thus becomes a tribute to 
the poet, in consummation of the longest, and in spite of unusual 
difficulties one of the most successful, bibliophile labors ever spent upon 
an English poet".

It would, of course, have been more of a tribute had it not been revealed a 
year after the publication of Hood's book that Wise had also been engaged 
in forging rare Browning pamphlets. But this reprinting of Pauline was 
before all that, so let us return to happier times...

Augustus Muir, in his article in 'Strand Magazine' in September, 1929, 
recounts the story of Browning, 'Pauline' and Wise-

"In the year 1884 Mr. Wise first met Robert Browning; and one of his visits 
to the poet was an exciting one. Dr. Furnivall, a friend of both, went 
along with him to 19, Warwick Crescent. Browning was in a front room on the 
ground floor destroying letters and papers. He had dragged from the top of 
the house an old leather trunk that had once belonged to his father, and 
was dipping into it.

"Mr. Wise, to his horror, saw letters of Carlyle go into the fire and a lot 
of Browning's own early verses... Out from the old trunk came two precious 
copies of the original edition of 'Pauline'. 'If I had asked Browning for 
one of them I am convinced he would have given it to me,' Mr. Wise has 
declared. 'But I let the chance go'.

"On leaving the Browning house, he told Dr. Furnivall how keen he was to 
get the book. The good Furnivall was amused at the thrill his friend had 
got at a glimpse of such a prize in duplicate. 'Write to Browning,' he 
said, 'and ask him for one of the copies. Offer in return to give to a 
charity any sum he thinks just'.

"Delicacy held back Thomas J. Wise, but the story does not end here. A few 
days later, James Dykes Campbell invited him to dine at his flat in Albert 
Hall Mansions. Browning was the only other guest. After dinner Mr. Wise and 
his host sat and smoked, while Browning, who did not smoke, was making a 
leisurely tour of the bookshelves of the room. 'I see you have everything 
here of mine,' he said to Campbell. 'No,' replied Campbell, 'I still lack 
"Pauline".' 'Oh, that gap can soon be filled!' exclaimed Browning. 'The 
other morning I came across two copies of it. One of them will be sent to 
you tomorrow'.

"Here again was a god-sent chance for Mr. Wise to ask for the other. But 
again he let it slip. Next day, after much wrestling of spirit, he took Dr. 
Furnivall's advice and wrote to Robert Browning. But he was too late. 
Browning had already decided to give the other copy to his son."

Mr. Wise did eventually get his copy of Pauline after a long hunt, and for 
a considerable price. Browning inscribed it for him- "I see with much 
interest this little book, the original publication of which can hardly 
have cost more than has been expended on a single copy by its munificent 
Proprietor and my friend -Mr. Wise".

And so Wise reprinted the poem. While having an original 1833 edition of 
your very own might be more satisfying it will cost you a lot of money; and 
so for considerably less there is this Wise edition, which has the added 
value of the various associations between Browning and Wise -it's almost 
more fun than an original!  O.K., almost...

Hardcover.  5"x8", 71 pages, original gray boards with a paper spine label; 
label rubbed, top 1" of spine covering lacking; tips bumped. $200.00

Illustration-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images03/th-05344.jpg>





JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

Post Office Box 516, Concord, Massachusetts 01742 USA
telephone (617) 492-5367

--> Subscribe to our free email News List and get special
      discounts and offers on selected books!
<http://joslinhall.com/mailman/listinfo/jhrbnews_joslinhall.com>

--> Our full-service website features 86 separate subject
      categories, and has full search capabilities.
<http://www.joslinhall.com>

--> Visit our new BARGAIN BIN pages for a selection
      of good, inexpensive books for your bookshelf!
<http://www.joslinhall.com/special-1.htm>

  ~~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank; We 
accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard. Books 
may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed; Standard 
courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges are $5.00 for the 
first book, and $1.50 for each additional book. Shipments outside the U.S. 
will be billed at cost. We accept returns if we are notified within ten 
days of your receipt of the books-please ask for full instructions and 
terms. Massachusetts residents must add 5% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America we are 
committed to upholding high professional standards and making sure your 
bookbuying experience is enjoyable.