VEST, George Graham. Man's Best Friend, A Plea to a Jury. New York City, 1920. 15 etchings. Brown and green inks. 13 x 10.5 cm., wove paper, tissue guards. Hand-bound in three-quarter leather over brown cloth, spines gilt with raised bands (small inkstamp of Scroll Club, New York, on upper left corner of verso of front free endpaper). One of a set of three of Wall's early etched books, uniformly bound and preserved in a brown cloth slipcase (see A.1.8 and A.1.3 herein). Wall's manuscript note on front free endpaper, with an original pen and ink sketch of a dog: "This is the 2nd etcht book done in 1922 [sic]. This is the 3d etcht book, followed by several hundred more. Bernhardt Wall" Also with his note on preliminary leaf: "Personal copy Bernhardt Wall." Presentation copy to Martin Burge, with calligraphic note in red, green, and black ink: "'To Doc' we give this Booklet Our Heart Goes With It. Barney May 12 1953. Me, too Doris."
Limited edition ("Personal" copy of 125 copies). Weber, p. 6: "Wall always claimed in his lectures that a dog had occasioned his etching career. He told audiences that while he was a young man, he frequented antiquarian book shops. One day, among the musty old shelves of a downtown store, a shaggy little pooch came bounding along and jumped into the lap of the proprietor. That touching scene inspired Wall to recapture the moment artistically. Recalling Senator George Graham Vest's plea for dogs, Wall brought out his etched masterpiece, Man's Best Friend, in 1920. The dog book...was an enormous success and was reportedly sold out within a single week." Wall's own Walliana list (September 1938) lists this as his first published etched book, excluding his privately issued World War Etchings. His note in the present volume is incorrect and should have been inscribed in this set's copy of One Midnight with Roosevelt. 70000023(2)
Plate list:
MAN'S BEST FRIEND... [title with vignette]. Olive green. 9 x 6.5 cm.
[Dog] | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO ALL DOG LOVERS [illustrated dedication leaf]. Olive green. 9 x 6.5 cm.
PREFACE...EDITION-125 COPIES [limitation leaf]. Olive green. 8.5 x 6.5 cm.
A BOY'S FIRST SWEETHEART | Wall 1920 [illustration of boy and dog]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
1 GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY... [text]. Olive green. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SHARING CRUMBS | Wall 1920 [illustration of man at table and dog]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
2 NEEDS IT MOST. A MAN'S REPUTATION... [text]. Olive green. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SYMPATHY | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
3 NEVER PROVES UNGRATEFUL OR TREACHEROUS... [text]. Olive green. 9 x 6.5 cm.
ON GUARD | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
4 HE GUARDS THE SLEEP OF HIS PAUPER MASTER... [text]. Olive green. 9 x 6.5 cm.
[Dog mourning at his master's grave] | Wall [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm
5 AND WHEN THE LAST SCENE OF ALL COMES... [illustrated text]. Olive green. 8.5 x 6.5 cm.
BERNHARDT WALL. ETCHER [printer's illustrated device]. Brown. 8 x 5.5 cm.
VEST, George Graham. Man's Best Friend, A Plea to a Jury. New York,
1920. 15 etchings (plus cover label). Black inks. 28.5 x 21 cm., heavy wove
vellum paper, tissue guards. Original hand-bound vellum over umber paper-covered
boards, etched label on upper cover. Presentation copy: "To Margaret Shelby
from that old friend of 1906, in the hopes that this weak effort will give
you some degree of pleasure while whiling away the days in golden California.
Ever Sincerely Yours, Bernhardt Wall, Dec. 27, 1921 NY City."
Limited edition (125 signed copies). With Wall's signed handwritten note on
first plate: "Special Vellum Copy." 70000043
Plate list:
MAN'S BEST FRIEND... [cover label with vignette]. Umber. 9 x 6.5 cm.
[Dog] | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Black. With Wall's handwritten note: "Special Vellum Copy Bernhardt Wall." 9 x 6.5 cm.
MAN'S BEST FRIEND... [title with vignette]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO ALL DOG LOVERS [illustrated dedication leaf]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
PREFACE...EDITION-125 COPIES [limitation leaf]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
A BOY'S FIRST SWEETHEART | Wall 1920 [illustration of boy and dog]. Black. 10 x 7.5 cm.
1 GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY... [text]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SHARING CRUMBS | Wall 1920 [illustration of man at table and dog]. Black. 10 x 7.5 cm.
2 NEEDS IT MOST. A MAN'S REPUTATION... [text]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SYMPATHY | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Black. 10 x 7.5 cm.
3 NEVER PROVES UNGRATEFUL OR TREACHEROUS... [text]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
ON GUARD | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Black. 10 x 7.5 cm.
4 HE GUARDS THE SLEEP OF HIS PAUPER MASTER... [text]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
[Dog mourning at his master's grave] | Wall [illustration]. Black. 10 x 7.5 cm.
5 AND WHEN THE LAST SCENE OF ALL COMES... [illustrated text]. Black. 9 x 6.5 cm.
BERNHARDT WALL. ETCHER [printer's illustrated device]. Black. 8 x 5.5 cm.
VEST, George Graham. Man's Best Friend, A Plea to a Jury. New York
City, 1920. 15 etchings. Brown inks. 25.5 x 17.5 cm.(10-1/8 x 7 inches), heavy
wove paper, tissue guards. Original hand-bound black cloth over dark olive
paper-covered boards, hand lettered in gilt (faded) by Wall on upper cover.
Inscribed by Wall on front free endpaper: "Copy No. 14 Bernhardt
Wall." Also with contemporary gift inscription: "To John McCutcheon
Raleigh from his devoted Uncle George [McCutcheon] Christmas 1920." Related
news clipping illustrated by artist J.T. McCutcheon laid in at back.
Limited edition (#14 of 125 signed copies). 70000086
Plate list:
[Dog] | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
MAN'S BEST FRIEND... [title with vignette]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO ALL DOG LOVERS [illustrated dedication leaf]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
PREFACE...EDITION-125 COPIES [limitation leaf]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
A BOY'S FIRST SWEETHEART | Wall 1920 [illustration of boy and dog]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
1 GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SHARING CRUMBS | Wall 1920 [illustration of man at table and dog]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
2 NEEDS IT MOST. A MAN'S REPUTATION... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SYMPATHY | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
3 NEVER PROVES UNGRATEFUL OR TREACHEROUS... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
ON GUARD | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
4 HE GUARDS THE SLEEP OF HIS PAUPER MASTER... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
[Dog mourning at his master's grave] | Wall [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
5 AND WHEN THE LAST SCENE OF ALL COMES... [illustrated text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
BERNHARDT WALL. ETCHER [printer's illustrated device]. Brown. 8 x 5.5 cm.
VEST, George Graham. Man's Best Friend, A Plea to a Jury. New York City, 1920. 15 etchings (plus cover label). Mostly dark brown inks. 27 x 20 cm. (10-3/4 x 7.5 inches), heavy wove paper, tissue guards. Original hand-bound black cloth over dark brown paper-covered boards, etched label on upper cover
Limited edition (#66 of 125 signed copies). 70000042
Plate list:
MAN'S BEST FRIEND... [cover label with vignette]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
MAN'S BEST FRIEND... [title with vignette]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm. With Wall's handwritten note: "Copy No. 66 Bernhardt Wall."
[Dog] | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO ALL DOG LOVERS [illustrated dedication leaf]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
PREFACE...EDITION-125 COPIES [limitation leaf]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
A BOY'S FIRST SWEETHEART | Wall 1920 [illustration of boy and dog]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
1 GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SHARING CRUMBS | Wall 1920 [illustration of man at table and dog]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
2 NEEDS IT MOST. A MAN'S REPUTATION... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
SYMPATHY | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
3 NEVER PROVES UNGRATEFUL OR TREACHEROUS... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
ON GUARD | Wall 1920 [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
4 HE GUARDS THE SLEEP OF HIS PAUPER MASTER... [text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
[Dog mourning at his master's grave] | Wall [illustration]. Brown. 10 x 7.5 cm.
5 AND WHEN THE LAST SCENE OF ALL COMES... [illustrated text]. Brown. 9 x 6.5 cm.
BERNHARDT WALL. ETCHER [printer's illustrated device]. Lime green. 8 x 5.5 cm.
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