[Rarebooks] FS: A Selection of Books on Epitaphs

Fri Nov 2 15:28:42 EDT 2007

>From our new A GRAVE AFFAIR catalog-
<http://www.a-grave-affair.com/Catalog_307.htm>

Box, Charles. "ELEGIES AND EPITAPHS: A Comprehensive Review of the Origin,
Design, and Character of Monumental Inscriptions and of other Necrological
Literature, whether in the form of elegiac verse or less ambitious
prose..."
    Gloucester; H. Osborne: 1892.
    "To which are appended fully 300 epitaphs or mottoes, classified to
suit the exigencies of different times of life; also, dissertations
upon ancient and modern cemeteries and disused burial-grounds, &c.,
elegies and epitaphs of celebrated persons, Latin and musical
epitaphs, &c."
    A posthumously published collection meant to educate and inspire
Victorian readers to sit up straight and mend their ways. Box found
"amusing" books on epitaphs in poor taste, and terms the state of
funereal and epitaphic art a "disgrace". Box offers a wealth of
interesting detail in the chapters about the history and current state
of cemeteries, epitaphs and elegies. His attitude also makes his
observations all the more interesting and pointed. All in all, an
entertaining and informative piece of Victorian historicism and
bluster. Uncommon.
    Hardcover. 7.5"x10", x + 299 pages. Publisher's maroon cloth with gilt
and black rules and decorations; covers a bit soiled, spine faded and
lightly spotted; binding dry; contents clean and nice. [09561] $300.00

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Bridgman, Thomas. ""MEMORIALS OF THE DEAD IN BOSTON; containing exact
transcripts of Inscriptions on the Sepulchral Monuments in the King's
Chapel Burial Ground, in the City of Boston"
   Boston; Benjamin B. Mussey &Co.: 1853.
   King's Chapel Burial Ground was the first ground set apart for burial
of the dead in the city of Boston, the first recorded burial taking
place there in 1630. Here are buried members of some of the oldest
Boston families. Bridgman supplies an interesting transcription of
early American gravestone inscriptions; two years earlier he wrote a
similar book on Boston's Copp's Hill Burial Ground.
   Hardcover. 5"x8", 339 + 17 pages, frontispiece, several family coats of
arms illustrated in the text; gilt pictorial covers. . Covers rubbed
and with chipping along the hinges on the spine, spine head chipped,
some internal spotting. [09722] $175.00

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Caldwall, Thomas. "A SELECT COLLECTION OF ANCIENT AND MODERN EPITAPHS, AND
INSCRIPTIONS; to which are added some on the Decease of Eminent
Personages"
   London; Thomas Caldwall: 1796.
   The author notes in the preface: "The Compiler of the following sheets,
having for many years made it a favourite amusement to collect from the
various churches, church-yards, and burial-places (in those situations
where business or pleasure induced him to go), such inscriptions as
might be useful or entertaining, has been persuaded to form such
selection of them as might be pleasing and instructive, and present
them to the Public". A second edition was printed in 1802.
   Hardcover. 4.5"x7", iv + 416 pages, portrait frontispiece. Bound in old
period marbled boards with a calf spine. Covers rubbed and somewhat
worn. Spine largely perished through rubbing and the hinges are loose.
Some scattered internal soil and a few marks; a little browning and
spotting. [09737] $150.00

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Cansick, Frederick Teague. "A COLLECTION OF CURIOUS AND INTERESTING
EPITAPHS, copied from the monuments of Distinguished and Noted Characters
in The Ancient Church and Burial Grounds of Saint Pancras, Middlesex"
   London; J. Russell Smith: 1869.
   As a collection of epitaphs these volumes are a valuable and immense
compilation, sure to be of more general interest than the title would
suggest. This set was released incrementally; the second volume,
released in 1872, expanded its coverage to other cemeteries and
churches in Saint Pancras; Volume 3, released in 1875, covers churches
and churchyards in Hornsey, Tottenham, Edmonton, Enfield, Friern
Barnet, and Hadley.
   Hardcover. 3 volumes. 5.25"x7.5", xxvi + 236 ; xxv + 294; xxxvi + 296
pages; some b/w plates. Bound in the original green pebbled cloth with
gilt spine titles. A little light cover rubbing; a little internal
spotting, endpapers somewhat discolored; front hinge of volume 3
partially torn. Former owner's inkstamp on endpapers. [09733] $175.00

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Edition Limited to 50 Copies-

Cowper, J.M. "THE MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS IN THE CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD OF
HOLY CROSS, WESTGATE, CANTERBURY. Copied by J.M. Cowper"
   Canterbury; Cross & Jackman, The Canterbury Press: 1888. Edition
limited to 50 copies.
   Holy Cross Church was founded around 1380 by Archbishop Simon of
Sudbury and renovated three times in the 19th century. It was closed in
the 1970s, and now serves as a Guildhall. The church sits adjacent to
Westgate, at the end of the London Road, the largest surviving city
gate in England and the entrance through which the Canterbury pilgrims,
including Geoffrey Chaucer, passed to enter the city.
   Hardcover. 7"x8.5", viii + 104 pages, b/w frontispiece; publisher's
brick-red cloth, gilt spine title; from the library of 19th century
genealogist and heraldic scholar George W. Marshall, LLD, officer in
the College of Arms, and member of the Society of Antiquaries, with his
engraved armorial bookplate. Covers a bit soiled, but overall a very
nice, clean, tight, desirable copy. [09552] $250.00

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Frobisher, [Nathaniel]. "FROBISHER'S NEW SELECT COLLECTION OF EPITAPHS;
Humorous, Whimsical, Moral & Satyrical"
   London; Printed for Nath'l Frobisher, in the Pavement, York: no date
(1790).
   A pleasant, well-chosen selection of mostly 17th and 18th century
epitaphs, indexed by name and by the first line of each epitaph. The
title page contains a pleasing vignette of a mourner in a churchyard by
moonlight. Not a common work, with only 9 OCLC listings.
   Hardcover. 4.5"x7", 216 pages, title-page vignette. Period polished
speckled calf with gilt border rules and gilt rules on the spine,
separating little gilt harp emblems; label perished; covers with some
scuffing; engraved 19th century armorial bookplate of Francis Freeling,
the famed book collector, Secretary and reformer of the English Post
Office, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and original member of
the Roxburghe Club. Some minor internal spotting and a little toning,
but overall a nice, clean, tight copy. [09551] $400.00

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Goldsmid, Edmund. "A COLLECTION OF EPITAPHS AND INSCRIPTIONS interesting
either from historical associations or quaintness of wording"
   Edinburgh; Privately Printed: 1885 (and) 1886. One of 75 large paper
copies. There was also an edition of 275 small paper copies.
   The first volume also includes a transcription of a 1598 description of
the tombs at Westminster Abbey.
   Softcover. 2 volumes. 5.5"x9", 54 + 48 pages, original buff printed
softcovers. Title pages printed in red and black. Moderate soil to the
covers, some internal spotting and a little soil. Spine head and tail
of Volume 1 chipped slightly and a slight split along the spine. Both
volumes are partially unopened. [09754] $150.00

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Hackett, John. "SELECT AND REMARKABLE EPITAPHS on Illustrious and Other
Persons, in Several Parts of Europe, with Translations of such as are in
Latin and Foreign Languages. And Compendious Accounts of the Deceased,
Their Lives and Works"
   London; Printed for T. Osborne and J. Shipton, in Gray's Inn: 1757.
   One of the early English compilations. In his dedication to James
Bruce, Hackett notes that this collection of epitaphs was "the Fruits
of leisure Hours, when, somewhat grave, and sensible of a Deficiency in
that Part of a Man's Cloathing that has so great a Sympathy with the
Animal Spirits, I have left Mirth for the Church-Yard, and deserted
Folks all alive and merry, for a pensive Hour with the Dead".
   Hardcover. 2 volumes. 4.25"x7", [ii], 288; 245, [xxi] pages. Volume 1
with an engraved frontispiece showing the interior of a crypt with an
open coffin, several skeletons, Muses, cherubs, etc. Bound in 19th or
early 20th century full gilt-ruled leather with leather spine labels.
Handsome engraved bookplate of Hans Sloane. Covers with light rubbing,
a little internal soil and toning. [09739] $350.00

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[Maiben, Frederick] "AN ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF EXTANT EPITAPHS. Gathered
by A Commercial in spare moments"
   London; F. Maiben: 1870.
   A charming and personal collection, gathered by the author over a
period of ten years he worked as a traveling commercial representative.
When he was on the road and had a few spare moments he would wander
into the local graveyard and copy down interesting epitaphs. The book
is handsomely printed, and includes several line-drawn facsimiles of
monuments, decorations and inscriptions. Uncommon.
   Hardcover. 5.5"x8.5", viii + 88 pages; several b/w illustrations.
Original pebbled burgundy cloth with a gilt cover vignette of a
gravestone. Light cover soil; a few gathers loose or detached, but all
present; slight split in the rear cover along the hinge. [09750] $85.00

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Merchant, Frank R. "CROSSING INTO ETERNITY. A Collection of Epitaphs, plus
Epistles on Death, Dying and Eternal Life"
   Published by the author: 1992.
   An interesting, highly personal survey of epitaphs at several Maine,
New Hampshire and Massachusetts cemeteries. Merchant and his wife, who
was dying of cancer at the time, gathered the epitaphs themselves, and
these form the background to the author's delving into the history and
religious questions surrounding death, burial, cemeteries, and
epitaphs. A deeply religious and opinionated man, the author's text
nonetheless makes compelling reading, as does his somewhat
idiosyncratic spelling and punctuation. A privately published volume
and quite scarce.
   Hardcover. 8.5"x11", 248 pages, b/w illustrations; gilt-lettered black
buckram, as issued. Front flyleaf excised, else a nice copy. [09861]
$150.00

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"A NICE ARRANGEMENT OF EPITAPHS"
   Cambridge; W. Heffer & Sons Ltd: 1964.
   A collection of 9 epitaphs, written by writers ranging from Ben Johnson
and Alexander Pope to Walter de la Mare and A.E. Housman, each
illustrated with a dramatic woodcut by Pamela Hughes, who also
contributed the dramatic, full-page woodcut that decorates the cover
and title page. Uncommon.
   Softcover. 6"x9", decorated title page, 11 pages, b/w woodcuts by
Pamela Hughes. A fine copy. [09558] $50.00

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Palliser, F. & M.A. "MOTTOES FOR MONUMENTS OR EPITAPHS SELECTED FOR STUDY
OR APPLICATION"
   London; John Murray: 1872.
   A wonderful compilation of epitaphs intended for the use of the
enthusiastic Victorian browsing for his own (or someone else's)
gravestone epitaph. The text is illustrated with plates after Flaxman
and others, as well as nice decorative vignettes of mourning flowers
and other thematic composition, which lends a certain elegance to the
proceedings.
   Hardcover. 5"x7.5", vi + 156 pages, + 32 page book catalog. 10 b/w
plates, many text illustrations. Purple cloth with gilt emblem and
title. Spine sunned, else a very nice copy. [09731] $125.00

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Popham, Edward. "ILLUSTRIUM VIRORUM ELOGIA SEPULCHRALIA"
   London; Prostant Venales apud J. Dodsley: 1778.
   A curious collection of Latin elegiacs, most from the 17th and early
18th centuries. The dedication, to George Spencer, Duke of Marlborough,
is also written in Latin verse.
   Hardcover. 6"x9", iv + 327 pages + engraved frontispiece. Rebound in
black cloth with a leather label; new endpapers. Light cover rubbing.
Text a bit browned, slight internal soil, title page with slight
offsetting from the frontispiece. [09748] $125.00

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Pulleyn, William. "CHURCH=YARD GLEANINGS, and Epigrammatic Scraps: being a
collection of remarkable Epitaphs and Epigrams..."
   London; Samuel Maunder: nd (1830).
   "Compiled from the most ancient as well as modern sources, foreign and
domestic, serious and facetious; to which are annexed some observations
on churches, church-yards, rites of sepulture, tombs, and mausoleums;
with instructions for ascertaining the dates of ancient monuments." A
nice collection, half epitaphs and half other epigrams. The engraved
frontispiece shows the author hard at work in the middle of a
graveyard.
   Hardcover. 4.5"x8", i-iv, vii-xxiii, 264 pages; engraved frontispiece.
Bound in old boards with a plain leather spine, covers somewhat worn
and soiled; a little internal spotting. [09736] $175.00

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[Richings, Rev. Benjamin]. "A GENERAL VOLUME OF EPITAPHS, original and
selected: with a large selection of striking and appropriate Texts of
Scripture and an Historical and Moral Essay, on the subject"
   London; J.W. Parker: 1840.
   After a "short" 77-page introduction in which he touches on the history
of burial and many aspects of Christian burial, the author offers 506
epitaphs suitable for use, organized by subject- Infancy; Youth;
Manhood; Old Age; Clerical; Naval and Military; Servants; the Blind or
Deaf; and Scriptural texts. This title was revised and reissued in 1858
as "Voices from the Tombs".
   Hardcover. 5.25"x8.25", lxxvii + 165 pages. Bound in the original
ribbed brown cloth with a gilt casket decoration on the cover. Covers
with some wear; spine perished (but several pieces preserved inside the
front cover); a little internal soil. [09727] $150.00

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"A SELECT COLLECTION OF EPITAPHS AND MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS, with
Anecdotes of Distinguished Extraordinary Persons"
   Ipswich; J. Raw: 1806.
   An interesting early collection of English epitaphs, selected for their
interest or excellence. "The following pages contain the Epitaphs of
many whose lives have been the most distinguished in the annals of fame
or longevity, whose excellencies, or eccentricity, have called forth
the exertions of the powers of varied genius". The book is decorated
with a handsome frontispiece which shows two fashionable young ladies
and an older gentleman admiring a handsomely carved gravestone in a
churchyard.
   Hardcover. 4.5"x7", xv + 230 pages, engraved frontispiece. Bound in old
boards with a newer cloth spine (strictly a utilitarian rather than
decorative spine). Covers worn, a little internal browning and light
spotting. [09735] $100.00

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Sparrow, John. "GRAVE EPIGRAMS"
   Bembridge; Printed by Simon Rendall in an edition of 200 copies: 1974.
   A curious volume of 11 poems, all either on the subject of death and
mortality or in the form of actual epitaphs or epigrams. John Sparrow,
whose 25-year Wardenship of All Souls College at Oxford was devoted to
a fierce resistance to its being tugged, kicking and screaming, into
the 20th century, was also a prolific writer and poet of some ability.
Here, for instance, is 'Upon Stone, an Engraver- A stone above, a stone
below; meet it was to shroud him so; fitting too that he should have;
grave words graven on his grave; Here this precious stone shall stay;
till Resurrection Day; angels roll the stone away". Sparrow was also a
famous book collector whose motto was "never lend books, never give
them away, never sell them, and never read them".
   Softcover. 7"x8.75", 23 pages; decoration incorporating a willow by
Reynolds Stone on the cover; a fine copy. [09559] $100.00

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