The Royal Pawn of Venice

 

 

Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull

(Francese Litchfield Turnbull)

 

 

 A scarce copy of the classical historical romance telling the 15th century story of the last Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro who, upon the death of her husband, Lusignian King James II, ruled Cyprus from 1474 till 1489 when she was forced to abdicate by the Venetian Republic that thereafter took direct control of the island.

 

First American Edition. This book is dedicated to "Her Majesty Margherita of Savoy, The Beloved First Queen of United Italy" then bears the following handwritten inscription to the rear pastedown: "Will the Illustrious and Honored Sovereign Lady of Italy, Queen Margherita, graciously permit that her attention be called to this Romance of Venice which a stranger presumes to offer only because it was written from a passionate . (continuing several lines)." It is a presentation copy to a gentleman who must have played the courier in 1921. This is a hard to find book even without this peculiar anomaly. Signed by Author. The book is bound in full rust cloth with a mosaic-style decoration in gold, blue and green, which though unsigned, has been attributed to the renowned "The Decorative Designers" which produced noted work for several leading American publishers in the early years of the twentieth century.

 

(360 pages, 12mo, Hard Covers, 1st American Edition, J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia and London, 1911)