Excursions in Victorian Bibliography

1836

THE FLORAL TELEGRAPH: A New Mode of Communication by floral signals. With Plates. London: Saunders and Otley, Conduit Street. MDCCCXXXVI. 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo (4¼ × 6¾). Pp. xv + (i) + 307 + (11). Publishers' advertisements occupy pp. (309) to (318)—others face title-page. The book contains six hand-coloured plates, printed separately. Olive-green cloth, blocked in gold and blind. Yellow end-papers.

Notes—(i) This book was published in December, 1836. It was reissued, probably in 1850, with a cancel title-page reading: “The Floral Telegraph or Affection's Signals” by the late Captain Marryatt [sic] R.N., author of Peter Simple etc. London: Saunders and Otley, Conduit Street. The pagination reads: xv + (i) + 324. Pp. xv + (i) + 189 + (1) are identical in the two editions, which are probably to this point composed of the same sheets. The second half of the book has, however, been reset, altered, and extended. The illustrations are the same as in the earlier edition, but they are much more coarsely reproduced and mechanically coloured. Olive-green cloth, similar to the first edition, but differently blocked in gold. Yellow end-papers.

(ii) It is a moot point whether or not Marryat was the author of this rather foolish little book. That he had, however, definite connection with it is suggested by the fact that on its first publication the “Metropolitan Magazine,” at that time closely identified with Marryat, devoted to it a three-quarter-page highly laudatory review, of which, after praising the introduction, the writer said: “Though no name is found on the title-page, it is evident that the work is from a practised and popular writer.” Further, if Marryat were not the author, it is difficult to understand the publishers' motive in reissuing it immediately after his death with his name on the title-page. If he deserves responsibility for the book, the manœuvre is comprehensible enough, especially on the part of a firm with whom he had severed relations in 1837, and thus deprived them of the profitable exploitation of his established reputation.

1836

RATTLIN THE REEFER. Edited by the author of Peter Simple. “All hands reef top-sails—Away, Aloft!” London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, Successor to Henry Colburn. 1836. 3 vols. Ex. Cr. 8vo (4¾ × 7¾).

Vol. I. pp. xii + (ii) + 301 + (3). Note by Marryat stating his connection with the work occupies p. (iv). Publisher's advertisements occupy pp. (303) (304).

Vol. II. pp. viii + 300. No half-title to this volume.

Vol. III. pp. viii + 344. No half-title to this volume.

Each volume contains three full-page etched illustrations by A. Hervieu, of which one is a frontispiece and the other two in the course of the text. A list of illustrations for the three volumes occupies p. (xiii) of Vol. I. The illustrations are dated 1836. Paper boards, paper label. White end-papers.

Note—This book, which was written by Edward Howard (see p. 100), was published on July 23, 1836. A second edition appeared on August 5 of the same year. A dramatic version by J. T. Haines (who also dramatized Jacob Faithful) was issued in February, 1893, as No. 2008 in French's Acting Editions of British Plays.

Two-thirds of the story appeared serially in the “Metropolitan Magazine” under the title, The Life of a Sub-Editor. Reviewing the book in its three-volume form, Marryat himself explained fully how and to what extent it had been transformed from a record of autobiographical fact to a frank experiment in fiction.

The six items that follow are, like Rattlin the Reefer, the work of Lieut. the Hon. Edward Granville George Howard, who worked as sub-editor to Marryat on the “Metropolitan Magazine.” At one time the actual authorship of Howard's books was ascribed to Marryat himself. This is now proved to be a mistake. Indeed, apart from the note of recommendation to Rattlin the Reefer and Marryat's review of that book in his magazine, there is no printed evidence that he had any share whatever in the composition of any one of them. On the other hand, he and Howard were very intimate; the stories of the latter are clearly influenced by the work of his chief; and Marryat collectors have been in the habit of regarding Howard's books as desirable adjuncts to a Marryat collection. For which reasons, and because it is no less probable than improbable that Marryat, in conversation if not by actual pencraft, helped to give his sub-editor's books their final shape, I have thought well to include them in this bibliography.

1837

THE OLD COMMODORE. By the author of Rattlin the Reefer. “Nestroque!” London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street. 1837. 3 vols. Ex. Cr. 8vo (4¾ × 7⅝).

Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 306.

Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 304.

Vol. III. pp. iv + 307 + (1).

Paper boards, paper label. White end-papers.

Notes—(i) This book was published on September 16, 1837.

(ii) The above reckoning was made from a rebound copy from which clearly flyleaves were missing.

OUTWARD BOUND: Or A Merchant's Adventures. By the author of Rattlin the Reefer, The Old Commodore etc. London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, Great Marlborough Street. 1838. 3 vols. Ex. Cr. 8vo (4¾ × 7¾).

Vol. I. pp. (iv) + 299 + (1). No half-title.

Vol. II. pp. (iv) + 308 + (2). Half-title to this volume. Publisher's advertisements occupy pp. (309) (310).

Vol. III. pp. (iv) + 326. Half-title to this volume.

Paper boards (half cloth), paper label. White end-papers.

Note—This book was published in March, 1838. The story appeared in part as a serial in the “Metropolitan Magazine” under the title Ardent Troughton.

1839

MEMOIRS OF ADMIRAL SIR SIDNEY SMITH, K.C.B. ETC. By the author of Rattlin the Reefer etc. London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 1839. 2 vols. Demy 8vo (5½ × 9).

Vol. I pp. vii + (i) + 400.

Vol. II. pp. vii + (i) + 411 + (5). Publisher's advertisements occupy pp. (413) to (416). No half-titles.

Steel-engraved portrait frontispiece to each volume, printed separately. Pale blue ribbed cloth, gilt, blocked in blind. Yellow end-papers.

1840

JACK ASHORE. By the Author of Rattlin the Reefer, Outward Bound etc. etc. London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, Great Marlborough Street. 1840. 3 vols. Ex. Cr. 8vo (4¾ × 7¾).

Vol. I. pp. xvi + 310.

Vol. II. pp. viii + 300.

Vol. III. pp. vii + (i) + 323 + (1).

Steel-engraved portrait frontispiece to Vol. I. printed separately. Paper boards, paper label. White end-papers.

1842

SIR HENRY MORGAN: The Buccaneer. By the author of Rattlin the Reefer, Outward Bound, Jack Ashore etc. London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, Great Marlborough Street. 1842. 3 vols. Ex. Cr. 8vo (4¾ × 7¾).

Vol. I. pp. vii + (i) + 295 + (1).

Vol. II. pp. vi + 307 + (1).

Vol. III. pp. vii + (i) + 315 + (1).

There is a portrait frontispiece to Vol. I., lithographed and printed separately. Paper boards, half cloth, paper label. White end-papers.

1859

TALES FROM BENTLEY. Vol. I. London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, 1 vol. Pott 8vo (4 × 6¼). Pp. (iv) + 96. Buff paper wrappers printed in black. Also in boards. The Marine Coast, a story by the author of Rattlin the Reefer, occupies pp. 55 to 88.

Note—This first series of Tales from Bentley was published in September, 1859.

A NOTE ON MARRYAT AS ARTIST

It is well known that Captain Marryat was a painter as well as a writer. Collectors of his written work will perhaps also be interested to know of a published book containing in reproduction some of his drawings. In 1825 or 1826 there appeared the following work:

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BURMESE WAR. Both Series. With twenty-four plates after drawings by Captain Marryat, Thornton and Moore displaying the Operations of the British Forces. London: Published by Thomas Clay. (N.D.) The volume measures 20½ × 13¼, is bound in thick grey paper wrappers lettered in black as above, and contains five engravings of pictures painted by Stothard and D. Cox after drawings by Captain Marryat. The name Kingsbury and Co., 6 Leadenhall Street, appears at the foot of the engravings as their publisher, together with the date 1825.