THE BEQUEST OF PERCY WATTS RULE

Turnbull Library Record, Volume XIII, 1 August 1956, Page 12

THE BEQUEST OF PERCY WATTS RULE

C.R.H.T.

When Alfred H. Huth, one of the most magnificent bookcollectors of modern times, made his will in 1903, he provided that the British Museum should have a selection of fifty books from his library. The result was recorded in a handsome volume published by the Museum in 1912, where the treasures were described. It was a noble tribute to a noble gesture. It may be that Percy Watts Rule, distinguished architect of Timaru, whose untimely death occurred in May 1953, had this precedent in mind when he provided in his will that the Alexander Turnbull Library should receive a selection of twenty of his books, to be chosen by his daughter, Mrs. IT G. Norris, and the Librarian. In addition, however, he devised the whole of his “A. Edward Newton Collection”.

The name of A. Edward Newton, of Philadelphia, has enjoyed an individual and robust repute in the higher circles of book-collecting in the past thirty years, for Newton was a millionaire book-collector, who knew what he was about, was an undeniable “character”, and an engaging and competent writer to boot. Few more charming books on English book-collecting than his Amenities of Book Collecting have ever been published, and if Percy Watts Rule found himself admiring the American’s writings and personality therein, it was perhaps that he recognized a kindred spirit and that his was merely a parallel line of development.

It had become a new path in book-collecting to assemble the not inconsiderable writings and “—ana” of Newton, and without much conscious intent at first, Watts Rule anon found that in following his interest he was accumulating quite a collection. This is now manifest in the scores of items now present in the Library under the name of Newton. Apart from writing well and knowledgeably on his favourite study, Newton stressed sound principles in its pursuit, such as his insistence on original condition, and the significance of association and provenance. He was in the

habit of producing an attractive booklet for his friends each Christmas, and a nice series of these graced Watts Rule’s shelves. Newton was perhaps best known as an admirer of Dr. Samuel Johnson and his works. It is relevant here to retail an anecdote that I took pleasure in passing on to Mr. Rule. Newton, at a gathering of academic people, was introduced to a Dr. Johnson, a professor of physics. The latter, knowing something of Newton, smiled quizzically and remarked, “To me, sir, there is only one Newton.” Edward Newton struck a pose, and retorted, “Sir, there is only one Dr. Johnson to me!”

Newton and Watts Rule corresponded occasionally, and his letters give an intimate touch to the collection. And I remember his showing me, with some concern, Newton’s last Christmas booklet, where he quoted Charles Lamb’s “Yours, ratherish unwell”. For he had written to me about the same time in the same unhappy strain. It presaged the end, and the end meant something more to Newton—he would, in the sale of his splendid library, give to others the pleasure he had had in collecting all those treasured volumes. The three-volume sale catalogue is a monument of its kind, such as Newton would have enjoyed preparing—and buying from!

It is tempting to linger on this theme, but the rest of the bequest is also important in divers ways. The selection sought to obtain books that would not only improve the Library’s holdings, but reflect some lustre upon the benefactor and his collecting. Watts Rule’s interest in art was the dominating note in his library, as in his life as an architect. Thus two huge volumes (1748 and 1750) of the imposing prints of Piranesi’s Roman Architecture were an obvious choice. Four volumes of Japanese colour prints were chosen, one original, two as issued in P. Neville Barnett’s editions, and one beautiful volume of Hiroshige.

Two early Bibles were selected, one printed at Lyons in 1643, with woodcuts by Albrecht Durer and others, the other printed at Mainz in 1609, with the superb copper plates of De Bry. As the Library already holds a full set of De Bry’s Voyages, this latter was an attractive choice. A Book of Common Prayer printed by Mark Baskett in

1766, handsomely printed, and bound in green morocco, bearing the arms of King George 111, was a treasure that the owner once asked to be included.

Watts Rule bound a number of volumes in his library, and he stipulated that at least one of his bindings should be included. The volume chosen is essentially his own work, a variorum collection of translations of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Fitzgerald, engrossed in his own fine hand-lettering, and bound in a black calf with inlaid design. The life and adventures of Peter Wilkins is one of the best known of the imitators of Gulliver’s Travels, and is curious for its flying people. The attractive two-volume edition of 1784 was deemed a fitting companion to the first editions of Gulliver and Robinson Crusoe already on the shelves.

A Persian MS. of the 17th century, with tasteful watercolour paintings, was the collection of stories known as Risala Khayal Fullah. Other MSS. were a document of 1757 signed by Louis XV of France, one of 1621 signed by Charles Prince of Wales, later Charles I, and a letter from Lord Tennyson to the poet W. C. Bennett, 1880.

Four volumes of incunabula were highly prized by their late owner, and each has its own interest. Two were printed at Lyons, one by Mathias Huss undated, but from internal evidence not before 1495. This is that very popular history, Fasciculus temporum, by Werner Rolewinck. Other fifteenth century copies of this work by another printer are in the Library. The other volume is attractively produced, with many woodcuts, by Nicolaus Philippi and Marcus Reinhard, who printed the first dated book at Lyons in 1477. The present book, Postilla in Evangelia et epistolas, by Guilielmus Alvernus (Giullaume Auvergne,'Bishop of Paris from 1228 to 1249), was printed about 1485, but is undated. This commentary on the Gospels and Epistles is notable mainly for its illustrations. Johannes Gritch’s Quadragesimale, printed at Strassburg by the mysterious craftsman who is known to bibliographers as “Printer of Henricus Ariminensis”, was the most cherished fifteenth century book in the Earlham Library. This is primarily because it came from the library of William Morris at Kelmscott House. It is an impressive folio rubricated by

hand. The type was also used by another printer at Reutlingen. The work is a collection of sermons for the Lenten season.

Equally unidentified is the printer of Herodianus’ Historia de imperio post Marcum printed at Rome on 20th June 1493. He is thus known simply as “Printer of Herodianus”, and for the production of one other book. Likewise his type is identical with that of a Neapolitan printer. This is now one of the few books in the Library’s collection from fifteenth century Roman presses, and is, incidentally, quite rare.

A special printing of Percy Watts Rule’s bookplate has been done for insertion in all these books, and is reproduced here. The Library is grateful for the additional richness with which he has endowed its shelves, which will long bear witness to his goodwill.