Rhymes Of The Times
Being Chiefly Verses Which Have Been Already Published Under The Nom-De-Plume Of "Oriel" In THE ARGUS, And Which Are Now Republished By The Kind Permission Of The Proprietors Of That Journal.
By John Sandes
Illustrated With Photographs & Drawings by Lionel J. Jones
Published by Stillwell & Co Printers & Publishers: Melbourne 1898 1st Edition
In Original Covers - Rare Book - None Available Online Globally At Time Of Listing
"Rhymes of the Times is a notably scarce collection of topical verse by Australian journalist, poet and novelist John Sandes, originally published in Melbourne's Argus under the collective newspaper pseudonym "Oriel". Sandes was one of the early writers responsible for the paper's celebrated "Passing Show" column, which commented upon the events and personalities of the day and continued in various hands for more than fifty years. In his preface, Sandes describes the challenge of writing verse amid the constant demands of daily journalism, while arguing that poetry could be discovered in ordinary incidents and current affairs as readily as in grand or abstract themes.
The collection ranges across Australian racing, naval and military affairs, theatre, politics, romance, patriotism and social observation. It opens with "Carbine's Good-bye", written in the imagined voice of the great racehorse upon his departure from Australia, and includes such pieces as "Nelson's Foudroyant", "The Last Ride", "The First Shot", "Love at the Law Courts", "Trilby in Melbourne", "A Question for the Admiralty", "For Freedom", "To Gladstone" and "The People of the Play". Alternately humorous, sentimental and patriotic, the verses preserve the concerns, enthusiasms and public conversation of late-colonial Melbourne immediately before Federation.
Published by Stillwell & Co of Collins Street, Melbourne, in 1898, this first edition is illustrated with photographs and drawings by Lionel J. Jones, including portraits, topical scenes and the memorable photographic treatment accompanying "Carbine's Good-bye". Period advertisements are incorporated throughout the preliminaries, adding further interest as a record of Melbourne printing, commerce and popular culture in the 1890s. Retaining its striking original pictorial covers, this is a rare survivor of Australian newspaper and literary history, with no other copy located for sale online anywhere globally at the time of listing."
Light wear to the covers and spine. No inscriptions. No loose pages. Pages clean and well presented. An excellent copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 21cm x 17cm x 0.75cm - 81 Pages
