A collection of Mary Wilson’s school prize books including: Erling the Bold: A Tale of the Norse Sea-Kings by R M Ballantyne, Blackie, London, undated. Near fine in decorative green cloth, crisp, clean pages in a tight binding, probably unread. Prize bookplate awarded to Gladys Baldwin by Fulbourn School 'First place for 1924-5'. The Setons by O Douglas, Thomas Nelson, London, undated. Very good in publisher's red cloth, spine sunned, the pages are bright. Inscription of ffep, "To Gladys Mary Baldwin, Passed with Honours in the S S Union Scripture Examination, 1927. From A Friend". The Book of Bodley Head Verse, John Lane, London, 1926, First edition, very good, lightly marked, spine rubbed and darkened, binding firm. Inscription to front pastedown "Commercial School 1925-6" with several student signatures. Little Women by Louisa M Alcott, Ward Lock, London, 1922. Good in publisher's cloth with circular illustration. Hinge cracked, spotting throughout, a few pages creased. Ownership inscription of Gladys Mary Baldwin, January 12th 1923. Little Women by Louisa M Alcott, Ward Lock, London, undated. Good plus in publisher's brown cloth, rectangular colour illustration. Some soiling to lower cover, occasional spotting to text, a pressed rose bud is found within the pages. Prize inscription to ffep "Gladys Mary Baldwin from Miss Beaumont. Fulbourn Infants' School Xmas 1923 For good work".
Essay on Man Epistles I-IV, by Alexander Pope, Macmillan, London, 1899, very good, covers soiled, spine tanned. The Golden Treasury selected from the best songs and lyrical poems in the English language arranged with notes by Francis T Palgrave, Macmillan, London, 1902. Good plus in publisher's blue cloth, slight spine lean, hinge starting to crack, edges rubbed and nicked. Ownership inscriptions to both of Harold Wilson’s mother, Ethel Seddon along with her extensive pencil annotations.
Christmas Books by Charles Dickens, Everyman's Library, 1917. Very good in red cloth, spine sunned, tiny holes to the cloth, occasional annotations. Romola by George Eliot, Everyman's Library, 1928. Near fine in red cloth, clean, square copy, bright gilt, crisp pages. These books were Christmas gifts to Mary Wilson’s father, Rev D Baldwin.
These books come from the private collection of British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his wife Mary who died recently at the age of 102.
