The Listeners; And other poems
London: Constable and Company, 1918. Small octavo : pp. [x] 92 : paper covered boards with red embossed border and lettering to top board and spine : INSCRIBED by the poet to Miss Baird and dated September 1919. Slight rubbing to spine, mild foxing. Very good. Item #15736
Walter de la Mare stayed at the Westminster Arms and in 1919 he wrote asking Miss Baird for permission to wander around the grounds of St. James's. By way of thanks she received a book of his poems with the inscription, "But 'twas beyond a mortals share to wander solitary there". (Malvern and its Famous Visitors online)
St James’s School was founded in 1896 by twin sisters Miss Alice and Miss Katrine Baird, two girls from a large family full of character: five of the seven sisters became Headmistresses. The school moved from the south of England to West Malvern in 1902, where they leased de Walden House, the grand home of Lady Howard de Walden. Alice Baird (6 October 1871 – 10 August 1959) was headmistress in 1919, when she established one of the earliest Girl Guide companies. She was a recipient of the Silver Fish Award, the Girl Guiding Association's (GGA) highest adult honour, in 1922.
Price: $200.00