The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. London: David Bogue, Fleet Street and Mustapha Syried, Constantinople. 1851. Frederick Locker Bookplate.
FINELY BOUND PRESENTATIONAL INSCRIBED COPY TO ELEANOR LOCKER DAUGHTER OF FREDERICK LOCKER.
Inscribed: “This Evening, July 13, 1868, I sang LORD BATEMAN to my dear little friend Eleanor Locker. George Cruikshank.”
Frederick Locker-Lampson (1821– 1895) was an English man of letters, bibliophile and poet. A prominent member of London literary society, his light verse was quite popular in its day. He is best remembered for the impressive and remarkable collection of books he accumulated, a hobby which developed into one of the most famous and respected private libraries in England.
This marvelous copy is actually mentioned in the 1882 book “The Life of George Cruikshank” by Blanchard Jerrold.
*Letter to B. J., Feb. 18, 1878.
“One day,” says Mr. Frederick Locker, ‘he asked us to tea, and to hear him sing ‘Lord Bateman’ in character, which he did to our infinite delight. He posed in the costume of that, deeply interesting but somewhat mysterious nobleman. I am often reminded of the circumstance; for I have a copy of ‘Lord Bateman’ (1851), and on the false title is written –
‘This Evening, July 13, 1868, I sang LORD BATEMAN to my dear little friend Eleanor Locker. George Cruikshank.’”
Bound in full red Morocco with embossed gilt work to corners and spine. Beautiful doublures to pastedowns with an original front cover of The Loving Ballard of Lord Bateman pasted in to front pastedown. Bound by Riviere and stamped to free endpaper.
