Funeral March of a Marionette: Charlotte of Albany
London: Hogarth Press, 1935. First Edition. Hardcover. First Impression ("First published 1935" on copyright page), one of only 1500 copies, of this odd and unexpected life of Charlotte Stuart, Duchess of Albany (1753-1789), illegitimate daughter of the Jacobite pretender Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie"), his only child to survive infancy. Small, slim 8vo; [10],11-96pp, with portrait frontispiece and two full-page illustrations. Publisher's black cloth, spine gilt; blue dust jacket, designed by Vanessa Bell, printed in red and priced 4s/6d. An excellent copy, square, tight and bright (apparently unread); Fine jacket, spine just barely toned. Scarce in such superb condition. Woolmer 360. Fine / Fine. Item #BB0746
Charlotte Stuart's mother was Clementina Walkinshaw, mistress to the Prince from 1752 until 1760. After years of abuse, Clementina left Charles, taking Charlotte with her. Father and daughter were finally reconciled in 1784, when he legitimized her and created her Duchess of Albany. She left her own three illegitimate children with her mother, and became her father's care-giver and companion in the last years of his life, dying less than two years after him. Buchan was wife of the author (The Thirty-Nine Steps) and Governor General of Canada, John Buchan. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Price: $424.00