Description
The gentle art of making enemies. Edited by Sheridan Ford. "New York: Frederick Stokes & Brother" [but Antwerp], 1890. Rare piratical edition, 8vo, original grey wrappers bound in, modern green morocco gilt, gilt border to covers, red and brown morocco lettering pieces, t.e.g.
Footnote
Note: The publishing history of "The gentle art of making enemies" is complex. Sheridan Ford was initially commissioned by Whistler to edit and publish the work, but before the book was quite ready for publication Whistler changed his mind, paid off Ford, and proceeded to do his own editing and publishing, producing a signed limited edition and a standard trade edition published by Heinemann.
Ford departed with his own copy, determined to publish the book under his own responsibility. Knowing that what he was about to do was illegal he gave the manuscript to a printer in Antwerp, Belgium, and had an edition printed in Paris. At least some of the copies printed at Antwerp were published with the imprint of Frederick Stokes and Brother and were sent to the United States. The present copy is one of the few such pirated copies. The Paris edition was suppressed by Sir George Lewis, Whistler's lawyer, who prevented the importation of the book into the UK, Messrs. Stokes cabled to London that their name was used without permission and "the balance of the edition is stated to have been destroyed by fire". [Pennell, E.R. & J. The life of James McNeill Whistler, 1911, p. 290; the book being included in the lot]