Robert Louis Stevenson — Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers

London, Chatto and Windus, 1919. Leather. The first collection of Stevenson's essays, in a Gonville and Caius College armorial prize binding. A New Impression. With a prize presentation label to the front pastedown, given to J. M. Kirkby. With a bookseller's stamp for Bowes and Bowes, Cambridge, to the front free endpaper. Virginibus Puerisque (1881) brought together: Virginibus Puerisque i (1876); Virginibus Puerisque ii (1881); Virginibus Puerisque iii: On Falling in Love (1877); Virginibus Puerisque iv: The Truth of Intercourse (1879); Crabbed Age and Youth (1878); An Apology for Idlers (1877); Ordered South (1874); Aes Triplex (1878); El Dorado (1878); The English Admirals (1878); Some Portraits by Raeburn (previously unpublished); Child"s Play (1878); Walking Tours (1876); Pan"s Pipes (1878); A Plea for Gas Lamps (1878). The essays promote a spirit of playfulness in defiance of both the hardships of human life and the restrictions imposed by bourgeois Philistinism. Despite not selling well the essays had a good critical reception. In a half morocco armorial prize binding with cloth covered boards. Externally, very smart with some shelfwear only. Internally, firmly bound. Very clean throughout. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed .