HEMANS MRS. [ FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS 1793-1835 ] / BAKER, HELEN (1836-1912) .

The Better Land by Mrs. Hemans. Illuminated by Helen Baker .

London: Published By Day & Son, (Limited) Lith. Gate St. W.C. [1867] . 0. First and only edition. 11.0" x 9.0" x 0.5". 11 un-numbered leaves. Dull maroon cloth over bevelled boards. Front board with gilt title: "The Better Land."; and gilt date; "Mdccclxvii." Carefully rebacked at some time in the past. All page edges bright gilt. Original yellow endpapers. Inked dedication to front endpaper, dated 1867. Coloured title-page. Second leaf with preface by Right Reverend Samuel Wilberforce, gothic style text in red & black, dated; "S.Oxon. Cuddesdon Palace December 17th, 1866." 10 further illuminated illustrations. One with a small albumen photograpic vignette. Light foxing/toning to margins and off-setting to the verso off each plate. A well preserved copy of a scarce book. N.B.: "The work was produced to aid the rebuilding of St James Church, Ramsden in Oxfordshire. Helen Baker who provided the illustrations was a younger sister to the Rev Robert Lowbridge Baker then parish priest at Ramsden. The Reverend Robert Lowbridge Baker was the first vicar of Ramsden and gave the tower; spire and bells in memory of his first wife who died on the eve of the opening of the church. The church cost £1,886 and the tower, spire and bells cost £639 (accounts). The church opened on Friday 26th April 1872. The builder was Groves of Milton under Wychwood." (Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: p734; Kelly’s Directory of Oxfordshire: 1911: pp308-9) .

Chilton BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 49500

Catalogue: Illuminated: : 19th Century

Keywords: The Better Land / by Mrs. Hemans ; Illuminated by Helen Baker Day & Son Illuminated: : 19th Century