"Poke" usually means a sack (as in "a pig in a poke") but in the context of this Dundee SRC publication it means a stomach or belly: thus, in the first (1903) edition of Meal-Poke, "Tradition tells that [after] each Meal Monday the Scottish Student returned to College with his poke replenished and his heart refreshed".
This limited edition of the 1922 production ("The New Meal-Poke") - this copy is number 171 of the limited de luxe edition of 200 copies, initialled by the two principal editors - is a beautiful production. The soft tan leather covers (upper and lower panels blind embossed to designs of Andrew Macfarlane) overlap the boards, hiding most of the text-block, in the fashion of some Bibles. The text stock is watermarked "Arnold Unbleached". The folded sections remain uncut at the top and untrimmed at the other two edges. The plates are printed on art paper and inserted singly, each with its tissue guard present. This very good copy would be rated fine without a split lower front hinge, lightly rubbed covers and sunned endpapers and front and lower page edges.
The writer contributors include names still well known, including Earl Haig, the Chancellor, Sir James Barry, the Rector (who also contributed to the 1903 predecessor), Thomas Hardy, John Drinkwater and Jeffrey Farnol. The illustrators may be less well known today but, as the images show, their work is equally distinguished.
An extremely fortunate find, the copy has bright white unmarked text and pristine plates and, as already mentioned, has never had all its pages turned.
- Binding Condition: Very Good
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Size: 260 x 195
- Sold By: Fontein Books
- Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 051 773 0050/048 079 546 4032
- Preferred Payment Methods: Eft (South Africa), SWIFT (rest of world), or $ checks for US or Australian buyers
- Trade Associations: AA Approved
