This is my Birthday. BARTLE (Anita).

Compiled with apposite quotations. With an introduction by Israel Zangwill.

First Edition. 8vo. [166 x 105 x 40 mm]. 340p. Bound in original red cloth, blocked and lettered in gilt, gilt edges. (Rebacked preserving original spine, slightly rubbed).
London: Grant Richards, 1902.

Containing over 80 autographs from a wide range of people - including well-known figures of the time such as Guglielmo Marconi (commonly accredited to be the inventor of the radio) - many of which had connections to Bristol or Bath.

Inscribed by the author to Henrietta Camm of Bath, whom Bartle terms "The kindest [woman] the best-conditioned and unwearied spirit on doing courtesies" 1905. However, little else can be gleaned of Henrietta Camm's life apart from through the autographs that she collected here - a mixture of musicians, scholars, artists and other important figures.

In terms of musicians, there are autographs from Mischa Elman (1891-1967), a Russian born violinist; Henry Lytton (1865-1936), an actor and singer knighted for his work with Gilbert and Sullivan; Fred E. Weatherly (1848-1929), who wrote the song 'Danny Boy'. Perhaps most notably there is a signature from Marie Hall (1884-1956), a violinist who studied under Elgar and helped Vaughn Williams to complete the Lark Ascending - after which he dedicated it to her. Her Stradivarius violin was sold at Sotheby's in 1988 for £473,000.

There is an autograph, hieroglyphics and some botanical specimens from Alfred E. Hudd (1846-1920), who was a native of Clifton and a founding member of the Clifton Antiquarian Club. In addition to this he was a keen naturalist and author of the Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of the Bristol District. Much of his beetle and lepidoptera collection was donated to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

There are two signatures from campaigners for the higher education of women - Eleanor Mildred Sidgwick (1845-1936) and Frances Helen Simson (1854-1938). On p221 there is an autograph in a bold script from Gertrude Bacon (1874-1949), an aeronautical pioneer and the first woman to fly an airship.

The list could continue, but I shall stop now. A lovely record of a woman at the turn of the century collecting autographs of the people she met and admired.

[This catalogue entry was written by Hannah Aspinall who worked for us for over five years until she left to travel and pursue other worldy interests in July. It sums up her enthusiasm, especially for anything relating to women].

Stock no. ebc4787