[Rarebooks] FS: 1853- "A Tract Upon Tomb-Stones" -Good Victorian Taste in Cemetery Art

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

TITLE: "A Tract Upon Tomb-Stones; or, Suggestions for the Consideration of
Persons Intending to Set Up That Kind of Monument to the Memory of
Deceased Friends"

By the Reverend F[rancis] E[dward] Paget.
Published in London by Joseph Masters: 1853. 3rd edition.

DISCUSSION: The Reverend Paget [1806-1882], rector of Elford, did not care
for much of what he saw in mid-19th century churchyards. Among the things
that disturbed him- epitaphs made up of too-effusive flattery & “lies”
meant to gloss–over the reputations and deeds of disreputable characters;
epitaphs that ask the reader to pray for the souls of the deceased which
bear “a reference to the Popish doctrine of Purgatory” (no praying for the
souls of the deceased, if you please); epitaphs declaring the deceased to
be worthy of Heaven or an innocent (as in a child), because all Men are
sinners in the eyes of God; epitaphs that declare the deceased to be in
Heaven -this is a problem because, well, hey, you never know, do you?

The Rev. Paget also deplores pedigrees and genealogies being carved upon
tombstones; he dislikes slate tombstones; he dislikes silver and gold
lettering and the use of fancy fonts and effects; he disapproves of jokes
and poetry in epitaphs and is driven to the depths of outrage and despair
by epitaphs which set out, often at length, the ailment the deceased died
of. What really drives him to distraction are tombstone carvings- lambs,
cherubs, scythes –all are bad, and even worse if they follow the modern
fashion and are painted out in bright colors. Even doves are bad- “unfit
even for the best of us”. And let us not talk of urns. God forbid anyone
use an urn –it is pagan symbol!

What is appropriate? A cross, and a short epitaph, best left to the
suggestion of your local clergyman. The Reverend Paget, a member of the
Lichfield Society for the Encouragement of Ecclesiastical Architecture, is
happy to illustrate 7 examples provided by the Society, all of which are
quite lovely in a vaguely neo-Gothic way, two of which are designs for
wooden markers, and several of which, interestingly, incorporate
Celtic-style crosses and decorative work. An interesting Victorian-era
work by a man who did not like what he was seeing in churchyards –no
siree, not one little bit! The first two editions were published in 1843
and 1847; none is common.

DESCRIPTION: Softcover. 5.25”x8”, 23 pages plus 7 lithographed plates.

CONDITION NOTES: Spine neatly reinforced, covers bit soiled, else in nice,
clean condition. A fragile pamphlet.

PRICE: $200.00

SOME PICTURES =>

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