THE ROYAL WEDDING

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 27

THE ROYAL WEDDING

BOOKS AS PRESENTS Among the wedding presents to their Royal Tlighnesses the Duke and Duchess oi Kent, were sixty-three book*. The presents were on view at St. James’s Palace at the end of December, and Mr C. H. Peters (manager of Robertson and Mullens) has acquired a list of the titles. Only twenty hooks were sent by their authors, and forty-three were selected by their giver*. It is interesting to observe now • frequently books relating to music or volumes of the works of great composer*' appear upon* the list. Gustav Kohbe’s ‘Complete Opera Book,’which gives stories or, and comment upon all' the operas, is presented with ‘ Mozart’s Operas,’ by Mr Edward J. Dent, and Guy de Pourtale’s ‘ Richard Waglier,’ bound specially in deerskin from Petworth Park, came from Lord and Lady Leconfield. Lady Musgrave presented Aan early edition of Gay’s ‘ Beggar’s Opera’—it was the third edition, dated 1729, and is rare. Major Tatter■all gave three books on great composer*— 1 Liszt,’ by Sacheverell Sitwell, ‘Chopin’s Life,’ by the Australian,William Murdoch, and -a ‘ Life of Wagner,’ by Newman. Volumes of music presented were Chopin’s works in three volumes, and a set of lour volumes of Haydn’s symphonies. Among devotional literature is ‘The Imitation of Christ,’ in the magnificent Medici Press edition, and a Prayer Book bound in white calf from the Archbishop of Canterbury; probably thi* was the One carried during the marriage ceremony. Four Bibles wero among the gifts, one a marked copy presented by one million readers of an English devotional journal. The National Bible Society of Scotland sent one inscribed cop-- each for the Duke of Kent and the Princess Marina; both were specially bound in morocco. The Victoria League of the Orange Free State gave ‘ Commando,’ a Boer journal of the Boer War, by Deneys Reitz, bound in royal blue calt. The women of Sidmouth and district presented the magnificent volume, ‘Royal Yachts’ by Paymaster-commander Gavin, R.N., while the Royal Irish Society sent a specially bound set of ‘ The Story of the Royal Irish Society,’ containing an illuminated address. One rare old book, dated 1790, is appropriate: it is a ‘History of Kent,’ by Hasted; threo volumes were presented by Mr Henry and Lady Anne Hunloke. and the fourth volume by the Hon. Esmo Glynne. Authors who have sent their own books include Lord Mottistone (General Seeley), who has written several attractive volumes of persona! adventure (which he wrote when he was General Seeley). These are the titles that he presented: ‘ Launch.’ the story of the life-boat service; ‘ Adventure,’ and ‘ Fear and be Slain,’ both of hunting, war. and personal adventure*. and 'My Horse, Warrior.’ The Belgian nation’s memorial to the late King Albert is to take the form of a National Library called the Ribliotheque Aibertine, The estimated cost it £1,500,000.,