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Tuberose and Meadowsweet. London: David Bogue, 1885.
Details
RAFFALOVICH, Marc André (1864-1934)
Tuberose and Meadowsweet. London: David Bogue, 1885.
First edition of Raffalovich's second volume of verse: presentation copy inscribed to fellow poet Swinburne: 'To A.C. Swinburne from his sincere admirer the author'. In further homage Raffalovich has identified (in pencil) the Swinburne two-line verse quotation printed on the title-page as being from 'Poems and Ballads (2nd Series) page 36.'
'Other writers of the 1880s and 1890s were attempting to "write" homosexuality through the cultural languages of sexology, decadent aestheticism, or classical literature, Raffalovich turned to the Victorian "language of flowers” —a language of romance and courtship codified in the floral dictionaries and gilt-bound gift books of the period-and he used this sentimental, heterosexual, and usually feminized language to portray homosexual love. (Madden, Say It with Flowers: The Poetry of Marc- André Raffalovich. p. 11). 'Raffalovich's second book, Tuberose and Meadowsweet [...] was anonymously reviewed by Wilde in the Pall Mall Gazette. Wilde sensed [...] disturbing notes: "To say of these poems that they are unhealthy and bring with them the heavy odours of the hothouse is to point out neither their defect nor their merit, but their quality merely”'.
Octavo (180 x 110mm). (Minor spotting and browning on end-leaves, outer edges of a few leaves slightly dust soiled.) Publisher's light green cloth, blocked in black above and below, title and author gilt-lettered, top edge gilt, untrimmed (lightly dust soiled, a few spots); cloth chemise and slipcase. Provenance: A. C. Swinburne (1837-1909; presentation inscription on verso of half-title, additional pencil note on title in authors hand, printed sale label on endpaper 'From the Library of A.C. Swinburne, Sold by Messrs. Sotheby, June 19th-21st, 1916') — Kenneth A Lohf (1925-2002; bookplate) — Barry Humphries (1934-2023; bookplate).
Tuberose and Meadowsweet. London: David Bogue, 1885.
First edition of Raffalovich's second volume of verse: presentation copy inscribed to fellow poet Swinburne: 'To A.C. Swinburne from his sincere admirer the author'. In further homage Raffalovich has identified (in pencil) the Swinburne two-line verse quotation printed on the title-page as being from 'Poems and Ballads (2nd Series) page 36.'
'Other writers of the 1880s and 1890s were attempting to "write" homosexuality through the cultural languages of sexology, decadent aestheticism, or classical literature, Raffalovich turned to the Victorian "language of flowers” —a language of romance and courtship codified in the floral dictionaries and gilt-bound gift books of the period-and he used this sentimental, heterosexual, and usually feminized language to portray homosexual love. (Madden, Say It with Flowers: The Poetry of Marc- André Raffalovich. p. 11). 'Raffalovich's second book, Tuberose and Meadowsweet [...] was anonymously reviewed by Wilde in the Pall Mall Gazette. Wilde sensed [...] disturbing notes: "To say of these poems that they are unhealthy and bring with them the heavy odours of the hothouse is to point out neither their defect nor their merit, but their quality merely”'.
Octavo (180 x 110mm). (Minor spotting and browning on end-leaves, outer edges of a few leaves slightly dust soiled.) Publisher's light green cloth, blocked in black above and below, title and author gilt-lettered, top edge gilt, untrimmed (lightly dust soiled, a few spots); cloth chemise and slipcase. Provenance: A. C. Swinburne (1837-1909; presentation inscription on verso of half-title, additional pencil note on title in authors hand, printed sale label on endpaper 'From the Library of A.C. Swinburne, Sold by Messrs. Sotheby, June 19th-21st, 1916') — Kenneth A Lohf (1925-2002; bookplate) — Barry Humphries (1934-2023; bookplate).
