[Three works in one volume, all privately printed]

Elizabeth Susan Abbot (nee Law), Lady COLCHESTER (1799-1883, Wife of 2nd Baron Colchester; daughter of 1st Baron Ellenborough).

Miscellaneous poems. Dedicated to Lord Colchester. By E.S.C. [London: privately printed by G. Barclay,  with] ‘Not Published’ at the foot of the title: 1849. 12mo. Pp. [i-viii; 1-]2-61[-62]. OCLC 557767777 and see 70424203.

[bound with:]

Views in London. By an Amateur. Sketched from a window in the “Palais de la Verité.” And Extracts from an Album. Dedicated to Sophia, Countess of Darlington. [Chiswick: privately printed at the Chiswick Press by Charles Whittingham, with ] ‘Not Published’ at the foot of the title: 1833. 12mo in sixes. Pp. [i-vii]-viii; [1-]2-66. Author’s name added in ink to the title page (by the author). OCLC 557717280 and see 70424203.

[and:]

Miscellaneous Poems. Dedicated to Joseph Jekyll, Esq. By E.S.L. [London: privately printed by Ibotson and Palmer, with] ‘Not Published’ at the foot of the title page: 1832. 12mo signed in sixes. Pp. [i-vii-]‘vi’ i.e. viii; [1-]104. Manuscript corrections to pp. 28, 36 and 99. See OCLC 70424203

3 works in one volume (7 3/8 x 4 5/8 inches; 187 x 118mm). Half-titles to each work. (Some spotting).Contemporary green morocco gilt by White of Pall Mall, London, gilt borders, spine and turn-ins, light yellow glazed endpapers, gilt edges (some scuffing, splitting to joints, the spine and lower cover ‘sunned’).

Provenance: Mary, Marchioness of Salisbury (Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, inscribed in black ink to verso of front free end paper, ‘The Marchioness of Salisbury with Lady Colchester’s Love’.)

A presentation volume including three of the author’s works: the spine implies that there was at least a second volume, it is lettered in gilt ‘Lady Colchester’s Poetical Works. Vol.I.” This second volume would (probably) have contained ‘The Lady “Arabella Stuart” and ‘Giustina: a Spanish Tale’ – it might also have included ‘Il Viaggiatore’.

The author “Elizabeth Sophia Law (afterward Lady Colchester} was a daughter of the famous Lord Ellenborough. Her poems … are generally smoothly versified, and display a kind and affectionate disposition. Sometimes she attempts a humourous strain, and not altogether without success.” (Bertram Dobell [being patronizing in] Catalogue of Books printed for Private Circulation [London: 1906] p.30).

The recipient “Mary Stanley, Countess of Derby (previously known as Mary Gascoyne-Cecil, Marchioness of Salisbury, née Lady Mary Sackville-West; 23 July 1824 – 6 December 1900) was an English grande dame and political hostess….

She was heavily involved in Victorian politics. Her father was a friend of the Duchess of Kent which meant she was part of Victoria's circle while growing up.  As a result of her strong family connections, while she was married to the marquess of Salisbury, she turned their house, Hatfield House, into a strong Tory base. Frequent visitors to the home were Lord Carnarvon, Disraeli, and Hugh Cairns.

After the death of her first husband and her second marriage she lost Hatfield but continued her strong presence in British politics. She influenced Cabinet members and foreign ambassadors at times a matter of some concern.

Lady Derby was also in regular correspondence with her friends who included Charles Darwin, The Duke of Wellington and Sir Henry Irving.

Her letters were gathered in a book. Her papers are also available through the national archives.She was a well enough known figure to have been mentioned by Virginia Woolf in Orlando: A Biography.” (Wikipedia)