Katherine Vereker — Dairine: And Other Poems

London, Jarrold and Sons, 1901. First edition. Cloth. An uncommon first edition of a poetic anthology centered on Irish Medieval tales of kings and queens, with a whimsical and abstract flavour. The first edition of Dairine, a scarce anthology of narrative poems, written by Irish poet Katherine Veraker. Published by Jarrold and Sons in 1901. Only four copies of this work are held institutionally in the UK.In the publisher's original dark green decorative cloth, with a frontispiece containing the poet and a facsimile of her signature. Pencil inscription to front free end paper states that the anthology was a wedding gift to a relative.Inspired by the Celtic tales of Ireland from the early Middle Ages, Veraker's abstract and whimsical anthology delves into these historic episodes in melodic fashion. In the process, Veraker takes the reader through kings, queens, clans and rivalries. In the publisher's original dark green decorative cloth. Externally, smart, with the odd faint mark to boards. Slight bumping to the head and tail of the spine, and to the extremities, with minor edgewear. Marginal rubbing to joints. Offsetting to free end papers, and smudging to the extremities of paste down. Pencil inscription to front free end paper. Internally, firmly bound, with minor wear to hinge between leaves pp.92-93. Pages are bright and clean, with slight age toning and a small crease to leaves pp.93-95. Very Good . Ill.: Allen and Bonn. Very Good .