Humbugs and Homilies by Sir J.G. Findlay - Historic signed 1st edition

A very special signed / association first edition copy of Humbugs and Homilies, a 1908 collection of Sir John George Findlay's lectures on political philosophy. Findlay, a lawyer and Liberal MP, served as Attorney-General under PM Joseph Ward from 1906 to 1911. This copy was gifted as a wedding present in December 1908 by Findlay to PM Ward's son, Cyril. Inscribed by both, this copy has considerable historical significance for those interested in New Zealand at the start of the 20th century.

VG-, foxing to endpapers extends to a smattering throughout the book; binding is rubbed and worn in places, splitting to marbled paper covering the endpapers, though the hinges remain intact.

Handsomely bound in full red leather, with gilt decoration to the spine, gilt ruling to boards, gilt tooling to the edges of the boards and attractive floral gilt decoration to the turn-ins. Gilt lettering to the spine is inexpert with a slight offset and poor kerning. Marbled endpapers and all fore-edges marbled with some fading.

Gift inscription on the front endpaper, "to Cyril [Ward], with the best wishes of the author, Wtgn, 5 December, '08". Later ownership inscription below. Signed by Ward on the rear free endpaper verifying him as the recipient. 

What adds additional charm is that it was gifted on the day of Ward's wedding to Elinor Ward (nee Davidson). In the New Zealand Herald on December 7, it was reported that "in perfect weather the wedding of Miss Elinor Davidson, niece of the late Mr Aloysius MacDonald, to Mr. Cyril Ward, eldest son of the Prime Minister, was solemnised yesterday afternoon at the Basilica, Hill Street" (via Papers Past). This wedding also coincided with PM Ward's silver wedding anniversary.

A volume presented by a former Attorney General to the son of a prime minister he served under, one who went on to became a notable figure in New Zealand political and economic history, is of significant historical interest.