SHAKESPEAR, John.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

John Shakespear of Shadwell and His Descendants 1619-1931. First edition, number 77 of 140 copies only, with an inscription recording the allocation of this copy to Augusta Harriet Childe-Pemberton. This superbly produced and privately printed family history has much material on India, where the family held a prominent position.A lengthy chapter covers the Indian Rebellion, and the text highlights the exploits of Sir Edward Talbot Thackeray, who won a VC at the Siege of Delhi "for his daring in extinguishing a fire in the Delhi magazine enclosure, while under fire" (Buckland, p. 419). Sorksy observes that "Alexander Shakespear was Collector of Bijnaur near Meerut from where he and his treasure were rescued by Hugh Gough, Malcolm Low and Sir Richmond Shakespear who was resident in Baroda."The author, Lieutenant-Colonel John Shakespear (1861-1942), served as the first political officer of the Lushai Hills, 1891-6, and later as political agent in Manipur. Accompanying this copy is a copy of his Christmas 1938 printed greetings sent to family members, in the form of a card portfolio with supplementary illustrations: a plate to face page 133 and two gelatin silver prints (mounted on card) after portraits of John Shakespear (1749-1825). Childe-Pemberton (1850-1942) was part of the Shakespear family through her mother, and her parents and her siblings are listed in the index on page 400.

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