Spanish Books from Paul Orssich

George Vivian was another British artist who visited Spain, but during peacetime rather than war. He visited twice - in 1833 and 1837. All was calm enough during his 1833 visit, but by 1837, there was internal turmoil. Many of the country's convents and other architectural heritage sites were being demolished. Writes Vivian, “I saw the demolition of some of the finest Convents going on, and observed the sites on which others had recently stood; the prospect of the speedy ruin of all...made me feel a strong desire to preserve some trace...” Item 87 is Vivian's Spanish Scenery, published in 1838. £3,800 (US $6,126).

We will conclude with a less serious title: Three Vassar girls abroad. Rambles of three college girls on a vacation trip through France and Spain for amusement and instruction. With their haps and mishaps. Is “haps” a real word? Author Elizabeth “Lizzie” Champney wrote a series of novels, at least ten, about the three Vassar girls, who travel to various places around the world. According to the Vassar Encyclopedia, “In a typical 'Three Vassar Girls' novel, the main characters tackle pertinent issues like bigotry and career development, while swooning over cute boys and attending garden parties.” The books were fictional, but they came with many illustrations of real places, mostly by “Champ,” who was Lizzie's husband, J. Wells Champney. The Vassar Girls books achieved mixed critical reviews, some seeing the books as fun stories for young girls, others as silly or lightweight (which is, undoubtedly, what they were intended to be). Lizzie Champney started by writing stories in magazines, notably Harpers, but would go on to write over 100 books during her lifetime, primarily for children but some aimed at adult women. She was herself a graduate of Vassar, which Orrsich notes is the “Harvard for senioritas.” Item 17, published in 1883. £45(US $72).