[YEATS, WILLIAM BUTLER, AND FAMILY] | The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England. Together with the Psalter of Psalms of David. Printed as they are to be Sung or Said in Churches. Edinburgh: R. Freebairn, 1730

The Property of a Gentleman

[YEATS, WILLIAM BUTLER, AND FAMILY]

The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England. Together with the Psalter of Psalms of David. Printed as they are to be Sung or Said in Churches. Edinburgh: R. Freebairn, 1730

12mo (2 1/4 x 4 1/8 in.; 55 x 105 mm). Title-page, decorative headpieces and initials; several leaves reinforced or remargined with tissue, some soiling. original full brown calf, marbled endpapers, preliminary blank annotated by members of the Yeats family; rebacked, corners reinforced, some rubbing and cracking. In custom quarter red morocco over marbled board clamshell case.

The Yeats' family Book of Common Prayer

The entries present in this volume record the children and paternal grandchildren of John Yeats, including the birth of W.B. Yeats's namesake grandfather and father. This is most likely a souvenir of the rectorate of John Yeats at Drumcliffe. In his biography of Yeats, Foster refers to a family prayer book that in 1906 belonged to a Miss Jane Yeats of Bray, and which Susan Mary (“Lily”) Yeats consulted in her effort to help her brother with with his "Reveries Over Childhood and Youth." It is probable that this is the same book.

An important association copy 

REFERENCES

Foster, W.B. Yeats a Life, 1: 542

PROVENANCE

Jane Taylor Yeats (ownership inscription to verso of front free endpaper)