DOWNEY, E. [F.M. Allen] Anchor-Watch Yarns.

London: Ward & Downey, 1893. Sixth edition. pp. 315. Printed wrappers. Spine rebacked. A good copy. Exceedingly rare. No copy of this edition located on COPAC. Two copies (fifth edition and 1897 edition) held at The British Library and National Maritime Museum. The imprint on the wrapper gives the publisher as James Duffy of Westmoreland Street, Dublin.

Edmund Downey (1856-1937) publisher and novelist, was born in Waterford, son of a ship owner. He was educated at the Catholic University School and John’s College, Waterford. In 1878 he moved to London and worked for the publisher Tinsley Brothers and two years later became editor of Tinsley’s Magazine. In 1884 he established his own publishing house, Ward and Downey. He is credited with one of the few publishers who facilitated the publishing of works by living Irish authors, greatly contributing to the popularisation of the Irish novel. His own fiction includes ‘Through Green Glasses’ (1887), ‘Green as Grass’ (1892), ‘Merchant of Killogue’ (1894), ‘Clashmore’ (1903) and the present work which is exceedingly rare.

[L3 4A]