Rosaline Masson | Circa 1933 | Scarce Presumed First Edition | James Clarke & Co. | Original Cloth Binding
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Author: Rosaline Masson
Title: Poets, Patriots, and Lovers
Publisher: James Clarke & Company, 9 Essex Street, London
Date: c.1933 (undated; publisher address consistent with output from 1925–1933)
Edition: Presumed First Edition
Binding: Publisher’s original red cloth, gilt lettering to spine
Pagination: 224 pp.
Size: 19.1 × 13.4 × 2.9 cm
Weight: Approx. 305g
 
Description
 
A scarce and engaging memoir by Scottish author Rosaline Masson (1867–1949), chronicling her personal recollections and encounters with prominent literary and philosophical figures of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a highly intellectual Edinburgh household, her father was Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh - Masson had access to some of the greatest minds of her time.
 
This volume contains anecdotal sketches and reflective chapters, including:
Why Did Scott and Carlyle Never Meet?
Herbert Spencer as Host
The work offers a uniquely personal perspective on literary giants, combining biography, memoir, and cultural commentary with charm and insight.
 
Provenance and Publication Context
 
Although undated, this edition was issued from James Clarke & Co.’s 9 Essex Street address, a location confirmed in publisher records from 1925 to 1933. Other extant copies appear bound in green cloth; this example, in red, may be a variant issue or possibly a small production run.
 
James Clarke & Co., established in 1859, was known for theological and literary publishing, with strong links to nonconformist and intellectual circles in London.
 
Physical Condition
 
Binding:
Original red cloth boards remain firm and square, showing light general surface marking and moderate wear to extremities. Spine panel sunned with minor fraying to head and foot; gilt titling still bright.
Text Block:
Edges roughly trimmed, as issued; occasional short closed tears from hand-separation. Very slight crack between gatherings at a few points, but the binding remains sound.
Interior:
Pages evenly toned with scattered foxing, notably to prelims and terminal leaves. Text remains clean and unmarked throughout, with no annotations or inscriptions.
No dust jacket issued.
 
Colophon and Collation
All pages present and complete: 224 pp.
Presumed first edition, scarce in commerce.
No library stamps, stickers, or institutional markings.
 
Historical and Literary Significance
 
This volume contributes richly to our understanding of late Victorian and Edwardian literary society. Masson’s recollections are more than nostalgic anecdotes; they are vibrant and often critical portraits of individuals such as Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter Scott, and Herbert Spencer. Her narratives offer glimpses into the private characters behind public reputations.
 
An evocative and historically valuable work, and an increasingly hard-to-find title in collectible condition.