Rus Divinum. A Poem. FINE BINDING AND A SCARCE FIRST EDITION. FINE BINDING BY ROGER DE COVERLY. Poem by Auguste SMADA. (Captain W. A. Adams, 5th Lancers) POETRY

T.Fisher Unwin. 1900. First edition. Very beautifully bound by Roger de Coverly in full vellum gilt, gilt decorations to compartments of spine. Marbled endpapers, all page edges gilt. Name stamp of Roger de Coverly to inside of front free endpaper. Spine slightly soiled, boards less so. A fine example from one of the top binders of this period. The book itself is very scarce and explores the beauty and divinity of the Russian countryside. The author uses vivid and descriptive language to paint a picture of the natural landscapes and the people who inhabit them. The poem is divided into several sections, each one focusing on a different aspect of Russian life and culture. It is considered a classic work of literature and a masterpiece of poetic expression. The themes explored in the book include nature, spirituality, and the human experience. This very attractive binding is the work of Roger de Coverly (1831-1914), one of the top binders in England during the latter part of the 19th century. He was apprenticed to Zaehnsdorf in 1845, worked for J. & J. Leighton from c. 1852-63, then established his own bindery. In the period of 1800-1900, his bindings were in great demand, as were his services as a teacher. He did a good deal of work for William Morris, and he counted among his illustrious students the younger Charles McLeish as well as another top English bookbinder - T. J. Cobden-Sanderson, who served an apprenticeship with him in 1883-84. Working mostly in the classical style, De Coverly and his two sons demonstrated craftsmanship that was consistently of the highest quality."Captain Adams" used the pseudonym "Auguste Smada" (Smada being Adams backwards) when printing a poem titled "Rus Divinum" around November 1900. He was an officer of the 5th Lancers who had recently returned from the front during the Second Boer War. He was a linguist and wrote from Tokyo to the London Standard newspaper regarding matters related to Russia, specifically concerning the Russo-Japanese War around 1904.