Estimate: $400 - $600
Auction: February 18, 2021 10:00:00 AM EDT
1. A Christmas Garland New York: E.P. Dutton & Company, 1918. Reprint. 12mo. 197 pp. Original red cloth, stamped in gilt, spine darkened; all edges gilt; scattered foxing throughout. From the library of famed Algonquin Round Table charter member Robert Benchley and with his ownership inscription: "Robert C. Benchley" in pencil on front free endpaper. 2. Zuleika Dobson New York: Boni and Liveright, Inc., no date (ca.1918-19). Reprint. Modern Library edition. 12mo. 358 pp. Green flexible leatherette, stamped in gilt, slightly cocked; all edges trimmed. From the library of Robert Benchley and with his ownership inscriptions: "Return to Bob Benchley" in pencil on front free endpaper and "Robert C. Benchley" in pencil on title-page. 3. And Even Now New York: E.P. Dutton & Company, (1921). Second printing. 8vo. 320 pp. Red cloth, stamped in gilt, spine darkened; top edge trimmed, other edges untrimmed. From the library of Robert Benchley and with his ownership inscription: "Robert C. Benchley/1425 Broadway" in pencil on front free endpaper. 4. Works of Max Beerbohm London: William Heinemann, 1922-1928. In nine (of 10) volumes (Vol VII, "Seven Men" is wanting). #724/750 sets (from a total edition of 780) signed by Beerbohm (in first volume). Interestingly, there is a price of 21/- in both volumes of "Around Theatres" leading one to believe the set was possibly put together by Benchley from multiple sources and could explain the missing volume. 8vo. Variously bound in yellow, green, dark red, white, blue, purple, brown, red, and black cloth, paper labels to spines, all variously faded or darkened; all edges untrimmed, dust-jackets wanting. The set Includes 1: The Works of Max Beerbohm; 2: More; 3: Yet Again; 4: And Even Now; 5: A Christmas Garland; 6: Zuleika Dobson; 8: Around Theatres, Vol. I; 9: Around Theatres Vol. II; 10: A Variety of Things. No ownership marks except "Robert Benchley" in pencil on front free endpaper of first volume of "Around Theatres," news clipping laid in to same; postcard addressed to Mrs. Robert Benchley laid in to "And Even Now"; news clipping laid in to "A Christmas Garland". Presumably Benchley's wife Gertrude was responsible for the ephemera, as was her custom.