George Klink was, I think, Janet Klink Irvine’s father. I remember Janet, my great-grandmother, describing the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Here’s the recto to George’s verso:
One of my mom’s degrees was in comparative literature, French and German in particular.
But more important to me, of course, is the family history: I didn’t know that there were Irvines in Salt Lake City in the 1800s, and I’m kinda psyched to know that I had an ancestor named Alonzo, although it doesn’t strike me as a particularly Scottish name. Or German or Welsh, either.
And what was Alonzo reading in the 6th Ward? J. Madison Watson’s National Elementary Speller: A Critical Work on Pronunciation; Embracing a Strictly Graded Classification of the Primitive and the More Important Derivative Words of the English Language, for Oral Spelling; Exercises for Writing from Dictation; Prefixes Affixes, etc., etc.
Interestingly, some of the Klink/Irvine/Walker clan of my mom’s side of the family seem to have actually been in Massachusetts at one point.
And I’m sure you can guess my favorite entry from that book.
“42. The Domestic Cat is found in almost every part of the globe. It is a subdued variety of the wild species; and, even now, when it is enraged, it seems to partake, in some degree, of the native ferocity of its original. The Cat has only the appearance of attachment; and it may easily be perceived, by its timid approaches and sidelong looks, that it either dreads its master, or distrusts his kindness. It seems assiduous to please, but it often obtains confidence merely to abuse it.”
(Tink! Zeugma! Such terrible slanders!)
“43. Generally speaking, these animals have but a slight affection for the person with whom they live; their attachment being rather for the house than the owner. Yet their figure, their tricks, their graceful motions, and the beauty of their skins, render them almost universal favorites. When young they are exceedingly playful, but with age they acquire much gravity, and often an increase of savageness. In their habits they are active, cleanly, delicate, and remarkably fond of ease.”
Dennis G. Jerz ·
Wow! Thanks for sharing these images. My former colleague from U Wisconsion-Eau Claire, Joel Pace, used to loan out books and encouraged people to write in the margins, since he himself loved encountering marginalia. Are there any notes in the collection you’re enjoying?
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Mike (author) ·
Dennis, there aren’t any in the editions for younger readers (the last four pictures), except for the signatures of owners. I’m wondering how Henry Cox, of 1848, was related to the Klinks: his signature certainly seems to be in a mature hand. But then, so does that of Alonzo Irvine, who was reading what was essentially a syllabary. It makes me even more embarassed about the decaying quality of my penmanship. Scant notes in the blackletter Goethe, in German of course, and so inscrutable to me, and some underlinings in the Young. Keep in mind, though, that these – for probably the last three or four generations – have been heirloom books, and are tattered and battered and falling apart. The Young and the Goethe have gorgeous, faded marbled covers, but are clearly from the early age of mass-produced books, and I dare touch them only so much. The syllabary and Mrs. Mary Trimmer’s animal book have mostly lost their spines, and literally hang together by a thread or two.
On the good side, there are books I won’t scan: George Klink’s gorgeous calfskin and gilt pocket-sized copy of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (of which, being a would-be classics geek, I already have two other copies, which of course hold far less personal and emotional resonance for me than this copy which I barely dare open), and the (nearly) complete red leatherbound collection of (almost) all the plays and sonnets of The Temple Shakespeare, in thirty-five tiny individual volumes, four inches by five inches, published in red and black ink by J. M. Dent in London in MCMV. And, yes, with the motto “Non Sans Droict” on the end-pages.
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Michelle ·
Did you decide against inclusion of the others?
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Michelle ·
Sorry, was off one entry (easy to skip those short ones).
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Arthur Young ·
Which volume of The Temple Shakespeare are you missing? I just ran across 41 volumes and obviously I have some duplicates. Perhaps I might have a match.
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Mike (author) ·
Arthur, I also have some duplicates. I’m missing Richard II, Henry V, the first and third parts of Henry VI, Timon of Athens, Pericles, King Lear, and Hamlet. If those are some of your duplicates, I’d be very grateful if you’d let me write you a check for them, or I can offer you some of my duplicates: Henry VIII, Cymbeline, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mine have been handed down through four generations, so there’s fading and spine wear, but they’re in pretty good shape otherwise.
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Ann Owen ·
I have a copy each of King Lear and Antony and Cleopatra in The Temple Shakespeare edition. Good condition. Anyone interested?
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Ann Owen ·
I have 7 volumes of The Chiswick Shakespeare, decorated and illustrated by Byam Shaw, green hardback, in good condition, if anyone is interested. Includes HenryVI, Parts 1 II and III.
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mike (author) ·
Ann, I’d be interested in your Temple copy of Lear and your Chiswick Henry VI. I’ll email you and maybe we can talk further.
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Ann Owen ·
Great! Not sure how I communicate my email address to you?
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Ann Owen ·
Hello, Mike. Great - but not sure how i send you my emil address?
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mike (author) ·
Ann, I’ve sent an email to the address you put in when you entered your comments. If that’s not the right address, just leave another comment here with the correct one – I’ll be the only one to whom it’s visible.
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Ann Owen ·
Mike, thanks for your email. I have replied (on the 16th). Hope it reached you. Ann
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Heather Cocke ·
I have 36 volumes of The Chiswick Shakespeare, decorated and illustrated by Byam Shaw, green hardback, in good condition, if anyone is interested. I will check specific titles if anyone is interested.
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anne giannini ·
Am interested in the Temple Shakespeares. Can you tell me more about what you have? Thank you, Anne
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Jan Davidge ·
I have one copy in super condition of Timon of Athens The Chiswick Shakespeare… gold embossing on the green fabric cover illustrations in excellent condition ( Byam Shaw) pages slightly aging . Anyone interested?
I also have one copy of Romeo and Juliet Heinemann 1904 Plate with Garrick and Mrs Bellamy as Romeo and Juliet also in very good condition. Jan
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