Yeats, W.B., contrib.

8vo, first edition, original white cloth, lettered in gold with design of harp on front cover, black endpapers, minor spotting, inscription in ink on half-title, covers somewhat soiled, very slight wear to extremities

Simon Nowell-Smith and Judith Adams Nowell-Smith, bookplates on upper pastedown

Wade 289

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

the author's first appearance in book form. (Wade I, Mosada, was an offprint pamphlet). Yeats contributed The Stolen Child, King Goll (Third Century) (which first appeared in The Leisure Hour of September 1887), The Meditation of the Old Fisherman (which first appeared in The Irish Monthly of October 1886), and Love Song. From the Gaelic. Other major contributors were Todhunter, Tynan, An Chraiibhin Aoibhinn, Ellen O'Leary, and T. W. Rolleston. The numbers of copies printed is not known, but almost a year after publication Yeats had to pay for a share of the printing since only 275 copies had been sold.

Yeats is often credited with editing this book, in which four of his poems appear. It is more likely that it was an informal effort headed by John O'Leary but including Yeats, Todhunter, and Tynan.