Description
FIRST EDITION, 8vo, pp. x, 259, [1], 4 (ads). Partially unopened in original blue cloth, spine and front board blocked in gilt, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Spine and edges just gently sunned.
Erniana and other poems.
- Birmingham: Cornish Brothers, Ltd 1906
£75
Notes
The second book of poetry by Alfred S. Johnstone, preceded by 1905's The Water Nymph and followed by 'A Gift of Remembrance' in 1907. The poems are largely patriotic and pleasant rather than great, though contemporary reviews noted 'perusal of this new volume... is a convincing proof that the spirit of poetry is unquenched among us' (Publisher's Circular, December 22 1906). The author has not troubled the historical record, unless perhaps poetry was a late-in-life hobby for Alfred Smeaton Johnstone (d.1918) of Birmingham, a chemist and manager with Henry Wiggin & Co. who made notable discoveries with manganese. Scarce: Library Hub locates just five copies of this one (only the copyright deposit libraries) and it has no record on the market.
