[The Royal Magazine]. [WODEHOUSE, P.G.]

The Royal Magazine. Volume I, November 1898 to April 1899, to Volume XLIII, November 1919 to April 1920 [an unbroken run of 43 volumes]

London, C. Arthur Pearson Ltd., 1898 to 1920.

Octavo, 43 volumes, approximately 500-600 pages (with numerous illustrations) per volume.

Uniformly bound in the publisher's colour-pictorial olive-green cloth; minor signs of age and handling (the only points worth mentioning are: the rear joint of Volume II is partially split; Volume X has a few marks to the leading edge and some margins; Volumes XIX and XXV are slightly snagged at the head of the spine; Volumes XXI and XXIV have a small puncture to the spine; Volumes XXXI and XXXIII have inner hinges expertly stabilised; wartime Volumes XXXVII-XLII are printed on acidic paper, now tanned); overall, in excellent condition.

The six Wodehouse contributions to this periodical are itemised in 'P.G. Wodehouse. A Comprehensive Bibliography and Checklist' by Eileen McIlvaine (D126.1 to D126.6). The first one, 'The Rhyme of the Sitter-Out' appears in Volume IX, April 1903, page 571, where it is unattributed. Volume XII contains 'Jackson's Extra. The Story of How Wrykyn Beat Ripton at Cricket' (June 1904, pages 157-161), and 'Homeopathic [sic] Treatment, a School Story' (August 1904, pages 296-300). Volume XIII contains 'The Reformation of Study Sixteen' (November 1904, pages 45-50). Volume XIV contains 'The Deserter, the Story of a Stolen Game of Cricket' (August 1905, pages 299-303). Volume XV contains 'The Ballad of the Beard' (November 1905, [page 30]).

Among much else of great value, the bibliography also contains a short (only five pages) but useful 'Selective P.G. Wodehouse Chronology'. His first published contribution appeared in 'Public School Magazine' in February 1900 (with the next one not appearing there until September that year); his first newspaper contribution appeared in 'The Globe' on 16 August 1901; his first 'Punch' article appeared on 17 September 1902; 'The Pothunter', his first novel, was published on 18 September 1902; and his first article for 'Vanity Fair' in the USA appeared on 19 March 1903. By any reckoning, his contributions to 'The Royal Magazine' are early works.

The other 38 volumes in this run provide the period context and furnish the room ... [43 items].

Item #145135

Price (AUD): $3,000.00
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