NELSON FAMILY PRESENTATION COPY The Life of Nelson

Two handsome small octavo volumes bound in straight grain red morocco with gilt decoration; all edges gilt; grey coated endpapers. Armorial bookplate of Richard Crozier to both front paste-downs. Charlotte Hood - formerly Nelson - has inscribed the verso of the flyleaves of both volumes: ‘Richard Crozier R.N. H.M.S. Ariadne from The Hon.ble Mrs Hood. Feb.ry 1826.’ She appears to have rubbed out the name of an earlier vessel in place of HMS Ariadne - presumably Crozier had recently changed ship. Tipped in opposite the inscription to volume I is a scrap of paper with ‘Robert’ written on it and below, the explanation: ‘This was written by Robert Southey to try his pen before writing his signature 1834’. Below, in pencil, a much later note: ‘Bought in a Bridport bookshop’ - possibly referring to this scrap of paper or perhaps the whole volume. A couple of brown spots to prelims; a hole to the first endpaper after the final page of text in vol I, otherwise near fine copies. This is the ‘New Edition’: Vol I has the portrait of Nelson before the text; Vol II has the leaf of facsimile signatures by Nelson opposite the title page.

Charlotte Hood, 3rd Duchess of Bronte (1787-1873) was the daughter of Horatio Nelson’s older brother, William Nelson. She married Samuel Hood, 2nd Earl Bridport, politician and peer. The book’s recipient, Richard Crozier (1803-1880), was only a lieutenant when these volumes were presented to him - the connection between Lady Hood and the young naval officer is unknown. Southey’s life of Nelson shaped the view of England’s naval hero for a generation.