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Sette of Odd Volumes Collection
MS.1950.043
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Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Ye Sette of Odd Volumes Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.1950.043
Physical Description:
6.0 Linear feet
(6 boxes, plus bound items)
Date (inclusive): 1878-1950
Abstract: Ephemera and correspondence related to Ye Sette of Odd Volumes from the collections of Ralph Straus and John Hassall. The
majority of material is printed ephemera related to Odd Volumes meetings and activities, but there is also a substantial amount
of correspondence written to John Hassall, as well as a manuscript notebook of minutes from 1919-1921.
Language of Material: Material is in English
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
This collection contains material originally part of the private collections of Odd Volume members Ralph Straus and John Hassall.
Materials from the collection of Ralph Straus include the items listed here as well as a bookcase containing printed publications
printed for the Sette, cataloged in the UCLA Library Catalog. These materials were all purchased in 1950 and are a part of
accession number MS.1950.043. The notebook of minutes appears to also be from the collection of Ralph Straus and was purchased
in 1951 (MS.1951.037).
Materials from the collection of John Hassall were purchased by the Clark Library in 1951 (MS.1951.036).
This collection was processed and this finding aid created by Rebecca Fenning Marschall in 2013.
This collection is arranged into 3 series:
- Series I. Odd Volumes Bookcase, 1878-1938;
- Series II. Additional Materials from the Ralph Straus Collection, 1883-1950;
- Series III. John Hassall's Odd Volume Collection, 1901-1939.
Ye Sette of Odd Volumes was a London-based bibliophilic club, begun in 1878 by bookseller Bernard Quaritch. The Sette's members
included a wide-ranging cross-section of notable men, including literary figures, artists, scientists, politicians, businessmen
and eccentrics. The original Sette petered out at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, but rebanded in 1950 with a new group
of members.
Ralph Straus served as President of the Sette from 1913-1919, in addition to serving as its self-appointed archivist. A novelist
and biographer, Straus collected copies of all Sette publications (both formal and ephemeral) when possible.
John Hassall, a prominent illustrator and artist, was also a longtime member of the Sette. He served as president from 1908-1909
and also collected an assortment of Sette ephemera and related correspondence.
This collection consists of ephemeral publications and correspondence created by or related to Ye Sette of Odd Volumes, dating
from approximately 1878-1950. Ephemeral materials included are largely invitations and programs/menus printed for the Sette.
There are also some printed keepsakes and some original drawings by John Hassall and Rupert T. Gould. Most correspondence
included here is written to John Hassall from other members of the Sette, though there are also some letters written to Ralph
Straus as well. Most correspondence is expressly about Sette business or intrapersonal politics.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Book clubs--Great Britain
Book collecting--Great Britain
Ephemera--England--19th century
Ephemera--England--19th century
Ephemera--England--20th century
Ephemera--England--20th century