[FROM THE LIBRARY OF ALFRED LORD TENNYSON AND FAMILY] - DAY

[FROM THE LIBRARY OF ALFRED LORD TENNYSON AND FAMILY] - DAY, THOMAS - THE HISTORY OF SANDFORD AND MERTON London, J & C Brown, no date (circa 1858). 8vo, plates, shaken, in original red publisher's cloth rubbed and worn. Title page with manuscript inscription "William & Lionel Tennyson Sept 16 1859" and front free end-paper with later inscription in blue ink "Finished reading - to Harold December 5th 1904 Farringford". William and Lionel Tennyson were the sons of Alfred Lord Tennyson and his wife Emily. It is probable that the title-page inscription is written by Emily. Lionel Tennyson died in 1886 and so the book remained with Hallam. Upon his father's death in 1892, Hallam succeeded to his father's title and his estate, including the family home of Farringford on the Isle of Wight. Hallam Tennyson became Governor then Governor-General of Australia between 1899 and 1904, leaving the post in January 1904 to return to England. The second inscription dated Dec 5th 1904 is either by Hallam or his wife Audrey - the 'Harold' mentioned being their son. Either way, the provenance of the book is beyond doubt