PREFACE TO THE EDITION OF 1880 17

But, having now all my plates in my own possession,¹ I will take care that none are used past the time they will properly last; and even the present editions of these old books can never become cheap-though they will be, I trust, in time, all sufficiently accessible.

§ 4. Some short notes are added to the text of The Seven Lamps, now reprinted; but the text itself (the passages above mentioned being alone omitted,) is given word for word, and stop for stop:-it may confirm the reader’s assurance on that matter, to know that I have not even revised the proofs, but left all toil of that kind to my good publisher, Mr. Allen, and his helpful children,² who have every claim, for what good the reader may get of the book, to his thanks no less than to mine.³

BRANTWOOD, February 25th, 1880.

¹ [Ruskin had by this time taken over the entire interest in his books from his former publishers, Messrs, Smith, Elder & Co.]

² [For some account of Mr. Allen’s “family industry,” at this time at Orpington, see E. T. Cook’s Studies in Ruskin, ch. vii. To a letter from Mr. Allen, containing an expression of gratitude for this tribute, Ruskin replied as follows:-

BRANTWOOD, Feb. 26, 1880.

It is very delightful both to be able to give so much pleasure, of the noblest kind; and to have one’s helpers able to receive it. I hope it is only the beginning of what reward in honour is due to such faithful service...]

³ [In the 1880 edition the following is added:-

“Advice.-I find that by grotesque mischance, the new preface takes no notice of my reason for printing some passages in the book in a larger type, and numbering them as ‘aphorisms.’ If the reader will attend to them, he will find their serviceableness and security justify this preference; and, these being first well understood, the rest of the book will become also lucid and cogent:-else it might be taken for a mere mist of fine words, and read-practically-in vain.-Brantwood, Coniston, May 26th, 1880.”

Then follows a list of errata which “the reader is requested to note and correct at once,” and which are corrected, of course, in all the editions since 1880. For list of them, see above, Bibliographical Note, p. liii. A note at the top of the MS. of this preface shows that it was “knocked off before breakfast.” Much of Ruskin’s work was done in the early morning: see Præterita, ii. ch. vi. § 122, and Eagle’s Nest, § 104.]

VIII. B

[Version 0.04: March 2008]