PRESENTED TO BENSON’S FRIEND, JOHN NEALE DALTON: Le Cahier Jaune Poems by Arthur Christopher Benson, of Eton College

Presentation copy inscribed by Benson to ‘J.N.D. from the author ACB July 1892 No. 80/200’. J.N.D. seems certain to be John Neale Dalton (1839-1901) for whom he served as best man in 1886. Benson wrote in his diary of the older man that "Dalton showed me much fatherly kindness" while Dalton described Benson as "an object of adoration". Published at Eton while Benson was teaching there, this is copy number 80 of the 200 printed on Benson's behalf by George New. The colour yellow became associated with the decadent and aesthetic movement of the 1890s, through the efforts of Oscar Wilde and latterly the Yellow Book. As Mrs Cheveley puts it in Wilde's 'An Ideal Husband','"I have never read a Blue Book. I prefer books... in a yellow cover."

The yellow card binding of this first edition is largely intact, lacking a triangle from the top corner of the lower cover. Internally the book is in very good condition and mostly unopened - despite the close friendship, Dalton did not read his pal’s book. It collates complete: [4] pp 5-99 [100]

A C Benson (1862-1925) went on to become Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and left behind a 5 million word diary.