A History of Eton College (1440-1898).

Gift inscription for Sir James Horlick. A handsome presentation copy of Lyte's (1848-1940) popular history of Eton College. Inscribed to 'James Nockells Horlick from his tutor A.B. Ramsay "e praeteritis bona omnia et fausta praesagiente". Eton. Christmas: 1904' ('predicting from your time here good things to come').

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Horlick (1886-1972), 4th Baron Horlick, was the second son of the co-founder of the malted drink, Horlicks. He was awarded the Military Cross for his service on the Salonica Front during the First World War. Here he befriended King Alexander the II of Greece and his wife Aspasia Manos, for whom he purchased the Garden of Eden in Venice in 1927. A keen horticulturist, following a short career as MP for Gloucester, Horlick purchased Achamore House and the island of Gigha, establishing there a flower garden where he cultivated rhododendrons for which he was awarded a Victoria Medal.

Third edition; 8vo (22.5 x 15 cm); gift inscription in pen to front free endpaper, folding colour plan of Eton College and numerous other illustrations including an engraved frontispiece, full colour plates, and woodcut initials; contemporary gilt vellum by Spottiswood and Co, morocco title-piece to spine, all edges gilt, occasional light spotting, vellum toned, otherwise near-fine.