[LITERARY SCRAPBOOK; THE POETS LAUREATE OF ENGLAND.] Hamilton, Walter, 1878. 4to. Full brown calf with gilt borders, gilt edges, marbled endpapers, raised bands and gilt to spine; black leather label and cover gilt-embossed: Walter Hamilton, 1878. A handwritten note on the flyleaf reads: The Illustration of this volume was commenced by the late Walter Hamilton Esq. and continued by John Morgan, Aberdeen. The personal bookplate of Walter Hamilton is on the pastedown, that of John Morgan on the flyleaf. Walter Hamilton (1844-1899), was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical and Royal Historical Societies, and author of A History of National Anthems and Patriotic Songs; A Memoir of George Cruikshank; The Poets Laureate of England; The Aesthetic Movement in England, and others. The book includes a publication by Hamilton, "The Origin of the Office of Poet Laureate," printed for private circulation, 1879, disbound and pasted on to pages; The Poets Laureate of England, London, 1879, disbound and pasted on to pages; and throughout the voluminous book there are many other relevant 18th and 19th century journal and newspaper clippings, and glued-in engraved illustration pages (from books, some 18th century) showing English authors, such as John Skelton, Thomas Warton, Ben Johnson, Dryden, as well as one of William III "engraved for Mountague's History of England." There are some handwritten pages, presumably by Hamilton, and a tipped-in ALS to Hamilton, signed by and on letterhead of Henry S. King, Publisher. Very Good. The leather is rubbed front and back, corners worn, but gilt is bright. There is a more recent owner's bookplate below Hamilton's on the pastedown. There is scattered foxing on pages and ephemera, but overall clean.