If it was being printed at a 1000 copies an hour, as noted on the envelope which is the third image, it certainly wasn't a "limited" edition, but I never found any data on the number printed or sold. My bibliography entry (E1-59) lists other libraries where it may be found, with and without the glassine envelope; a copy is in the National War Museum, the copy I believe noted in the Kip[ling Journal for March 1990..
Dave Richards
-----Original Message-----
From: To exchange information and views on the life and work of Rudyard Kipling [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roger Ayers
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 9:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The absent-minded beggar -- Royal ed.
For Peter Borcherds
I don't think that the 'Royal Edition' of The Absent-minded beggar' was
special in a 'royal' way except for the fact that the publishers included a
picture of Queen Victoria while dedicating the booklet , not to the Queen
herself, but to 'The Soldiers of the Queen'. See attached image of page 3.
While the copy that I purchased 25 years ago was marked 'scarce', the price
was relatively modest and its cellophane envelope boasted that the new
Orloff printing process, which the booklet was being used to advertise,
could print at the rate of 'about One Thousand Copies an Hour', so I can't
believe it was truly a limited edition. See image Envelope.
The front and back covers and five of the twelve pages display impressive
examples of the colour printing, showing heraldry and patriotic symbols,
page 3 is as shown and the other six pages carry the poem and a number of
pictures by well-known newspaper and magazine illustrators. See image of
page 9
Since the amount contributed, threepence per copy, were, according to the
envelope, acknowledged periodically in the Daily Mail, it should be
possible, with some research, to determine the number actually sold - which
might differ from the number printed.
Roger Ayers
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Borcherds" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 9:31 PM
Subject: The absent-minded beggar -- Royal ed.
A quick way to search the major British and Irish research libraries is to
use COPAC
What is Copac?
Copac exposes rare and unique research material by bringing together the
catalogues of over 70 major UK and Irish libraries. In a single search you
can discover the holdings of the UK's national libraries (including the
British Library), many University libraries, and specialist research
libraries. Researchers and educators use Copac to save time in their
research, to quickly and easily discover and locate resources, to check
document details, review materials in their field, and assess the rarity of
materials etc. Information professionals trust Copac to give them access to
a unique pool of high-quality bibliographic information.
I searched COPAC for Rudyard Kipling : The absent minded beggar
In a few seconds it generated the list shown in the attachment
Perhaps the most interesting entry is for the copy in the University of
Newcastle Library
Title
The absent-minded
beggar<http://copac.ac.uk/search?author=kipling&title=The%20absent%20minded%20beggar&sort-order=ti%2C-date&rn=1>
/ Rudyard Kipling.
Author
Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936
Edition
Royal ed.
Published
* London : Printing Arts Co. : Simpkin Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co.,
[1900
It is in a "special collection" so it is likely that the only way to access
it is to register as a user and to visit the library.
Regards
Peter
0121 475 3029
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