THE FOX'S PROPHECY (Author Unknown).

(1871) 1930 new edition. 12mo (129 x 163mm). Ppii,21. Not illustrated. Rought-cut fore-edges, top-edge gilt. Red cloth, gilt ruled border, fox's mask in roundel and title to upper board, plain round spine.

According to sporting author R.W.F. Poole, the manuscript of this poem was discovered in Aston-Ingham, Gloucestershire by the Rev. Whatley. The manuscript was dated 'Cheltenham 1871' but lacked an author's name. Rev. Whatley gave the manuscript to the master of the Ledbury, William Gordon Canning, who produced the first edition in 1914 in aid of charity. There was a further edition, in aid of the Red Cross, in 1918, and it was in this edition that the poem was first attributed to D.W. Nash. There is another edition edition similar to the present issue, also with a Dedication by the Duke of Beaufort, and dated 1930. That edition does not credit Nash as author. Both state that each was published to raise money for a new wing for the Gloucester Royal Infirmary in memory of Gordon Canning. This edition is similarly sized and bound, in red cloth, but has a fox's mask instead of the other's 3/4 view of a fox's head, it is paginated and has a gilt top edge. It does have a title-page, this names W. Gordon Canning as the publisher and states firmly "(Author Unknown)". This Dedication gives 1889 as the date when Canning received the original manuscript, but leaves the donor unnamed. The other edition was issued with a typed note stapled to the front end-paper stating, "Copies of the Fox's Prophecy, price 2/6d. each may be obtained from Mrs. Gwynne Holford, Hartpury House, Gloucester". William Gordon Canning died in August 1929, and his sister, Mary Gwynne Holford inherited Hartpury House. We may cautiously surmise, therefore, that this present issue was put together by W. Gordon Canning in the last year of his life, hence his name and address being given on the title page. The book was actually published posthumously, with the addition of the Dedication. The other edition would have been based on this version, but amended to remove the late publisher's name and address. Nb. William Gordon Canning would have been 14 in 1871. The style of the poem has a hint of bumptious schoolchild about it, and is well-stocked with references to real people and hunts. Further investigation by an enquiring reader is clearly in order.