Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Emile Souvestre translated by Elizabeth Strachey

 

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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