Baby' by Adelaide Drummond, not a children's book

May 11, 2022

Rare Books Documents Photos and Artwork

Lot 120

Baby' by Adelaide Drummond, not a children's book

Estimate: $300 - $500

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About this Lot

Description

Hon Adelaide Drummond (1827-1911, nee Lister).

Baby by the Honble. Mrs Maurice Drummond. [No place: no date]. Small square quarto (6 x 5 inches; 154 x 127mm). 12 laid paper leaves, printed recto only: decorative lithographic title and 11 lithographic plates by Adelaide Drummond. (Old creasing, marginal damage to the title page and the following leaf, some surface soiling). Rebound on marbled paper of the period (light scuffing).

An extra-ordinary work: Adelaide Lister is very cold towards the titlular ‘Baby’, who is referred to as ‘it’ throughout, and the progression from ‘It wakes up’ (plate 2) to ‘It goes to bed’ (plate 12) is clearly one of unrelieved boredom (almost hostility) as far as Mrs. Lister is concerned. Not a children’s book !

“The Hon. Adelaide Lister, sister of Lord Ribblesdale, and step-daughter of Lord John Russell, had been married, at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, to Mr. Maurice Drummond, third son of Mr. Charles Drummond, the banker. This marriage was preceded by an elopement. A week previous, a little before six o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Lister left the residence of Lord John Russell, and with Mr. Drummond proceeded to France. The young lady's absence was not discovered till dinner-time, and soon afterwards her route was ascertained. She was immediately pursued by some members of the family, who overtook the fugitives in France, and brought her back to London. Through the intercession of friends of both families, the matter was brought to the satisfactory termination noticed above. The bride is in her twentieth year, and Mr. Drummond is some two years her senior.” (The Hobart Town Courier and Gazette, 5 June 1847, page 3).

“Writer and illustrator. Eldest daughter of 2nd Baron Ribblesdale, step-daughter of Lord John Russell (Prime Minister),, wife of Maurice Drummond CB (1825-91), – Disraeli’s Private Secretary, Police Receiver and author. The Drummonds lived at several addresses in Hampstead, notably Rosslyn Hill where their son Lister [1856-1916] was born. “ (https://tombwithaview.org.uk/abg-people/hon-adelaide-drummond/)

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