Emile Souvestre translated by Elizabeth Strachey
When cataloguing some of the books owned by Robin de
Beaumont, in morocco bindings, a copy of Oliver Goldmsith’s The Traveller
came up for cataloguing (BL C188a812). This has a fine binding. Tipped in at the
rear of this was a long entry by David Block, of the work: Translations from
the French of Emile Souvestre by Elizabeth Strachey. 2 vols, Privately Printed,
1856 (BL C109bb16). The work was Collected and Edited by her husband, Sir
Edward Strachey.
Clearly the two volumes were intended as a memorial for her,
as the verso of the title page of vol. I has: “E. S. Born, February 14, 1810.
Married, August 27 1844. Died April 11, 1855.” On the page opposite, we have
the dedication: “To the memory of her to whom these translations are chiefly due,
while her hand, in them, as in all things else, was ever joined with that of
her husband.” Emile Souvestre was a novelist, whose work was translated often
in these years, and several English newspapers printed extracts. It seems most likely
that the Strachey family paid for the printing and for the binding of the Translations…
. The monogram “ES” was blocked on the centre of each cover, as was the
lettering at the head and at the tail: “To the memory of Elizabeth Strachey”
and “Coelum non animam”.
The British Library a purchased a copy of the Souvestre Translations…
in 1974. In the picture below, the upper
covers are of The Traveller, left, and Translations…, vol I, right.
As Block surmised, the binding of Translations… was done first, by
Leighton Son & Hodge, as their ticket was on the lower pastedown of vol. I.
The (brass) blocks were then re-used and the text of The Traveller bound
in.
BL C188a812 BL C109bb16
The monogram on the centre and the lettering head and tail
were taken out, and replaced by other small decoration, as was the spine lettering.
Block stated that The Traveller was issued in 1868, which, seems
unlikely. This was because David Bogue had died in November 1856, and the
company of William Kent had taken over the business by June 1857 (Wigan
Examiner 12 June 1857, page 6, col. 5) It seems unlikely that the brasses for
the cover and the spine would have been stored for some twelve years before
their re-use. A probable year of publication of The Traveller is 1856 or
1857. The binding of the de Beaumont copy is in near mint condition. The covers
of the two volume set of Translations… have faded with some wear to head
and tail. It is most useful to have an example of how use and light damage
adversely impact upon condition.
If the cover decoration was cut into one brass block, one
has to admire the delicacy of the lattice work on the sides and corners; also
the filigree work within the central rectangle. The ‘oriental’ style of
ornament was derived in part from Islamic art. This was fashionable at this
time, particularly with the publication of Owen Jones Grammar of Ornament,
1856. It is likely that more examples of
the re-use of blocks exist. However, the brass dies were heavy, difficult to
store and, as brass was expensive, melting them down to re-use for other
designs was done, before they could be re-used in the manner shown by these two
examples. Thes factors limit what is available for us to view today.
Edmund M B King
St Albans
August 2025
Further reading:
Jamieson, Eleanore. English embossed bindings 1825-1850.
Cambridge: At the University Press, 1972
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