Ibbett's Best

Ludwell, Wilts: Chiswick Press, July 1899. First edition. One of 150 copies printed. Presentation copy from H. Buxton Forman to "Louis" with a long, two-page inscription on the pages following the title-page. Forman writes: "Of male friends in England, William Joseph Ibbett is he with whom I am most intimate. . . . It is a "a settled vanity" with him (& with me) that his best songs & poems will live: hence the present collection. The inscription is dated 21 August 1900. Following his inscription, Forman has transcribed a poem beginning "Far too generous are you, Ibbett! / For your genius - could I crib it, / Be assured that I would do so . . . Ibbett is to Forman / Just as craftsman is to stowman. / You, my Diddy, made the whole thing: / As for my part, why the sold thing / To support what you have hinted / Is - I've got it nicely printed / And, to end the stowman's mission, / I've disposed of the edition. / There's the truth: I dare not fib it / Even to justify my Ibbett." The poem is initialed "H.B.J" at the end and dated 13 September 1899. Spine darkened and lightly rubbed, but a very good copy. Small 8vo, original brown buckram. Spine darkened and lightly rubbed, but a very good copy.