Item 22 - Letter from Lord Rothschild to R. B. McKerrow

1 single sheet, 1 envelope

Merton Hall, Cambridge.—If the paper is not suitable for the Review of English Studies it might be included in The Library. Is puzzled by the format of a copy of Swift’s Conduct of the Allies.

(With envelope.)

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Transcript

Merton Hall, Cambridge.
16 February 1938.

Dear Dr McKerrow,

A few days ago I sent you a paper I have written on the 1st Drapier Letter. {1} Since that time Harold Williams has suggested to me that if it were not suitable for the R.E.S. I should ask you to include it in The Library if you think it is worth while.

This, however, is not the real reason that I am writing to you. I have a bibliographical problem which is puzzling me, and I should be very much obliged if you could give me the benefit of your advice about it.

My copy of Swift’s Conduct of the Allies {2} is signed A–F8, {3} but the chain-lines are horizontal, and the watermark appears, I think upright, on the outer top corners of A5, 6, 7, 8, B7, 8, C5, 6, 7, 8, D7, 8, E7, 8, and F5, 6. This copy is clearly entirely uncut, but the top edges are straight. The size is 22∙2 x 13∙5 cm.

What I cannot decide is whether this book was printed on one half of a sheet originally double the normal size, or on cut-off pieces one-third the size of a normal sheet, as you suggest on p. 168 of An Introduction to Bibliography may sometimes be the case. Also, should the book be described as an 8vo?

I should be very grateful indeed if you could help me to clear up these points.

Yours sincerely
Rothschild

[Direction on envelope:] Dr R. B. McKerrow, | Picket Piece, | Wendover, | Bucks.

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Typed, except ‘Dear Dr McKerrow,’ ‘Yours sincerely | Rothschild’ and a small correction. The envelope, which was postmarked at Cambridge at 4.45 p.m. on 16 February 1938, is marked in pencil ‘Rothschild’ and, in another place, ‘K’, the significance of which is unclear.

{1} See MCKW A1/21. In the event the paper was printed, as Williams suggested, in The Library (4th series, xix. 107–15).

{2} Rothschild acquired six copies of this work, including two first editions, all now in Trinity College Library (Rothschild Library, ii. 551–2). The copy referred to is probably No. 2025 in the Catalogue (now RW.62.31).

{3} The ‘8’ is superscript.