Full Title: Conversational Openings and Endings: Some Hints for Playing the Game of Small Talk and other Society Pastimes

Edward Arnold, London, 1899. Hardcover. There are several reasons why this may be considered an intriguing offering. First, I wasn't able to find another copy of this title for sale anywhere on the Internet. Second, the rarity of this book is not due to its having been written by an obscure and ignored author. The author, Mrs. Hugh Bell, was Dame Florence Eveleen Eleanore Bell, a British writer and playwright, the daughter of Irish-born Joseph Francis Olliffe (later Sir Joseph Olliffe), and the second wife of Hugh Lowthian Bell, 2nd Baronet Bell of Rounton Grange. Florence Bell was herself created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1918. Then there is the Third reason, although admittedly a stretch. When you look at the first front end paper you will see an undated penned inscription. It reads 'To Lady Di with love Deborah'. Hmmm. So here's this singularly rare title written by a 'Lady', and apparently gifted by a person named Deborah to another one. You have to admit it would've made a perfect gift for a naive Princess: 'hints for playing the game of small talk and other society pastimes'. We do know the book was published in London and hung around there for at least awhile (there is a small bookseller label at the bottom of the front inside cover, 'R.H. Blackwell, Oxford'). On the title page it says Revised and Enlarged Edition. Obviously that means there was an earlier edition. When I Googled the title I found the book referred to on Worldcat and other sources as published in 1899 by Edward Arnold. That is the case with my book. So, perhaps the first edition was also published in 1899? Mrs. Bell was born in 1851, not much of a clue. In any event, this is the only actual copy of this book for sale anywhere, revised or otherwise.