Matthew and the Miller, a novel by Violet Bradby. Published in 1909 by Blackie and Son Ltd.

The inscription on the front endpaper (right) reads: “To Miss Hester Gatty with love from K. M. Bennett. July 8th 1914. A small prize for a good girl.”

In Quest of a Kingdom, a novel by Samuel Walkey. Published in 1919 by Cassell and Company Ltd.

The inscription on the front endpaper (right) reads: “Hester from O. Xmas 1919.” ‘O’, being Hester’s brother, Oliver.

Golden Bells or Hymns for Our Children - A collection of 628 hymns for children, published around 1909 by the Children’s Special Service Mission.  The inscription reads:

“Hester Gatty from Mummy October 1909.”

Ventures in Verse by Members of the Scratch Society - A collection of 31 poems published around 1924 by Arthur H. Stockwell. This seems to have been a group of quite well-off but amateur poets and story writers who formed this society and occasionally got their work into print. Hester Gatty was a member of the society and she has three poems in this book, “From the Hebrides,” “Tired” and “Moon-Beam.” The inscription reads:

“Hester Gatty 1924.”

Old English Love Songs and Madrigals - A collection of songs published in 1926 by Philip Allan & Co. Ltd. The inscription reads:

“Hester Gatty 1926”

Collected Poems of Edith Sitwell - Published in 1930 by Duckworth, the book, which has an errata slip pasted in, must have been a review copy as the signature is 1929 and the publisher’s date is 1930. The inscription reads:

 “Hester Gatty 1929”

The Nature Of The Universe, by Fred Hoyle. Published in 1950 by Basil Blackwell, Oxford.

This book belonged to Hester after she was married and she has written her name on the front endpaper, (right) “Hester Sassoon.” This is quite unusual as I have only ever come across her books where she has signed them using her maiden name, Hester Gatty, before she was married.

Mont Saint Michel - By Sir Stephen Gatty

A little off topic here as this is not a book, however, this lovely watercolour painting has a very close connection to Siegfried Sassoon as it was painted in 1876 by his future father-in-law, Sir Stephen Gatty. The picture is signed and dated as can be seen, above right. I had the picture mounted and framed after I bought it.

Sir Stephen Gatty 1849-1922, was the Chief Justice of Gibraltar 1895-1905, and the father of Hester Gatty who married Siegfried Sassoon in 1933.

The Book Of Common Prayer - From the Library of George Sassoon

The Book Of Common Prayer - This book is inscribed “George Sassoon from his loving mother. 1950”.

George (1936 - 2006), was the only son of Siegfried Sassoon and this book was given to him by his mother, Hester Sassoon (nee Gatty).