The Prizes are of course books. What would you choose? Something which reflects the interest of the moment and the subject for which the prize was awarded, but a volume that can be carried through life. A book to treasure, but one also to use and enjoy. It should be hard back so that it can be embossed.
Not an easy call. The most felicitous of my choices was the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations which I still use from time time, even in these days of Google.
We were given book tokens to take to the bookshop in Hertford. Today Hertford is out of bounds, another sign that with the increase of efficiency of transport the actual distances we are prepared to travel day to day and to allow our children to travel are shrinking. The system is that the value of the prize is docked from the school bill and the parent works with the child to buy the book.
Prizes from Amazon are the acme of individual choice. I have some evidence that once there was no choice. Some time ago in a second hand book shop I picked up a volume called 'Britain Long Ago,' a series of of Anglo Saxon and Norman legends, historical stories and poems edited by EM Wilmon-Buxton. It is stamped with the school crest, and has a label inside signed by Wynne Wilson; but there is no name of the prize winner and I can only surmise that it was never awarded.
The mystery deepens in that the label is dated 1900 (mdcccc), but the book was published in 1908.
Some years ago I was gifted a four volume set of the New Testament. The cover has the same design and logo as the one above. When I searched Hailebury College I got to a site that says it was opened in 1892. On the inside cover there is a similar label showing the name of the recepient and it is dated Easter 1880. The book itself indicates that it was published by John Murray of London on Albermarle Street in 1865. It is a very nice printing with several illustrations that fold out to give a wider view of the subject matter. But, with these conflicting dates, I am left to wonder about the history of this set. Any information would be most appreciated. Cheers from the colonies.
ReplyDeleteHaileybury UK was opened in 1862 (150 this year!). If you leave the name of therecipient I can look him up in the Register.
DeleteI have a book which I purchased many years ago with the name HNA Holgate on the front cover in a label which has Diligentiae Praemium on it. The book also Haileybury College embossed in the cover and is called Nelson by WC Russell.
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