Skittles, a biography of a fascinating woman

Hayward (William Stephens).  “Companion to “Anonyma”, Never Before Published”  George Vickers,  1864 First Edition   Small 8vo Later brown calf, spine with raised bands, ruled and dated in gilt and with red leather label lettered in gilt, top edge inner dentelles gilt A couple of minor ink marks to the text, and just a little foxing otherwise a very nice copy. Apparently extremely scarce - WorldCat lists only three copies and only the British Library copy in the UK  Published anonymously. “Skittles” was Catherine Walters, the somewhat notorious “pretty horse-breaker” and denizen of the demi-monde, one of the last great Victorian courtesans. She temporarily eloped to America with the married nobleman Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk. Her house was opened to the public who were amused to find a large number of huge mirrors and very few books. She was also the first love (of many) of Wilfrid Scawen Blunt. 

Price: £2800