Antiquarian and Collectors’ Books

[WHITMILL, Benjamin.] Kalendarium Universale: or, the Gardiner’s Universal Calendar. Containing an Account of the Several Monthly Operations in the Kitchen-Garden, Flower-Garden, and Parterre throughout the Year. London: for James Lacy, 1726. First edition, 12mo (144 x 80mm.) Title, 4pp. of contemporary ink notes to front blanks and 2pp. of manuscript notes to rear blank, 2pp. publisher’s advertisements to rear. (Browning, occasional spotting.) Contemporary brown full calf, later red calf lettering piece (lightly scuffed). Provenance: R. Welby (ink name to front pastedown); William Richardson (ink name to A3); David Standish (inscribed verso imprimatur leaf). Note: scarce first edition of this influential work on gardening. The ink notes on the blank leaves form a manuscript index which is divided- like the book- into the months of the year.

BACON, Francis. The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the proficience and advancement of Learning, divine and humane. London: Henrie Tomes, 1605. First edition, small 4to (161 x 102mm.) Woodcut initials to both parts, contemporary manuscript provenance to title, some underlining, near contemporary manuscript notes to last text leaf. (Front blank repaired, small, closed hole to title, lacking the two errata leaves, as often, rear blank replaced, browning, several leaves with headline trimmed, last ten leaves (Eee4-Hhh2) with corners chewed, a few words per leaf affected.) Early 19th century full brown calf (lightly rubbed, lettering piece lacking). Note: contains all the pagination errors noted by Pforzheimer as common to all copies, and also the first of his additional variant errors (leaf 3 unnumbered). The only book published in Bacon’s lifetime. Provenance: Thomas Dorrington (ink name inscribed to front blank, dated 1838); John Barratt (armorial bookplate to front pastedown); ‘Mr. Malleson’ (ink gift inscription on bookplate, dated 1877). [Pforzheimer.]

SATIRE. A Letter From Ibrahim Bassa, Grand Visier to the late depos’d Sultan Achmet, Who was strangled at the Demand of the People, for Male-Administration, to Don Ruperto de Poli, Knt. Of the Blazing-Star… with Don Ruperto’s Answer. London: Printed for, and sold by E. Rayner, [circa 1731.] Second edition, 4to (196 x 118mm.) 32pp., with half-title. (Marginal creasing, chipping.) Original blue wrappers, string-bound (creased, fading). Note: ‘Don Ruperto de Poli’ is a pseudonym for Robert Walpole.

The Definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Between His Britannick Majesty, the Most Christian King, and the States General of the United Provinces. Concluded at Aix la Chapelle the 18th Day of October N.S. 1748. London: Edward Owen, 1749. 4to (261 x 203mm.) Woodcut vignettes to title and last leaf, 65pp. text in French and English and pp.60-61 in Italian. (Title with some dust-soiling, corner creases, chipping.) String-bound. Note: the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle that ended the War of the Austrian Succession. The treaty marked a shift in the European alliances, a strategic realignment that led to the Seven Years’ War in 1756. – And another copy of the same (2).

POLITICAL PAMPHLET. – ‘J.W.’ Considerations on the Expediency of Raising, at this Time of General Dearth, the Wages of Servants That are not Domestic; Particularly Clerks in Public Offices. London: W. Nicoll, at the Paper-Mill, 1767. 8vo (222 x 141mm.) Title, ‘Introduction’, and ‘Thoughts on a Modern Position, that ‘Clerks in Public Offices ought not to marry, and that Fifty Pounds a Year is abundantly sufficient for their Subsistence’’. (Marginal chipping, some corner creasing.) String-bound.

SATIRE. Essays Upon Nothing, where Many Things are Treated of. Viz. 1. An Essay on Trade. II The Disadvantages of a Gothick Government. III The Necessity of a Fishery… [etc.] London: J. Morphew, 1709. 4to (235 x 186mm.) 24pp. (Damp-stained, marginal chipping.) String-bound. Note: rare. Only one copy held in institutions (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin). – And a further three pamphlets (Felix-Francois Espié’s ‘The Manner of Securing all Sorts of Buildings from Fire. Or, a Treatise Upon the Construction of Arches made with Bricks and Plaister, called Flat-Arches’, [1756], 8vo, and J.H.S. Formey’s ‘The Life of John Philip Baratier’, 1745, 8vo, and William Pittis’ ‘Memoirs of the Life of Sir Stephen Fox, Kt.’, 1717, 4to) (4).

TRIALS. – John POULTER. The Discoveries of John Poulter, alias Baxter; Who was apprehended for robbing Dr. Hancock, of Salisbury, on Clarken Down, near Bath… being a full Account of all the Robberies he has committed, and the surprising Tricks and Frauds he has practised for the Space of five Years… Written wholly by Himself. Sherborne: R. Goadby, sold by W. Owen, 1754. Eleventh edition, 4to (223 x 143mm.) 48pp. (Title dust-soiled, marginal creasing.) String-bound. Note: having been captured Poulter named his various accomplices who were all then arrested, and are listed in Poulter’s account. There is also advice to the public on the methods used by thieves and robbers, and he provides a glossary of terms (‘commonly called cant’) that thieves use. He was hung the year following his arrest, ‘acknowledging he deserv’d to die, but most of his Accomplices much more so’. – And a related work (‘The Trial of Lawrence Earl Ferrers, for the Murder of John Johnson’, 1760, folio) (2).

SLAVERY. [Anthony BENEZET.] The Case of Our Fellow-Creatures, the Oppressed Africans, Respectfully Recommended to the Serious Consideration of the Legislature of Great-Britain, by the People called Quakers. London: James Phillips, 1784. First printing, 8vo (223 x 148mm.) Title, 15pp. text with publisher's advertisement verso last leaf. (Marginal creasing and dust-soiling.) Original blue wrappers, string-bound (fading). Note: Anthony Bezenet was a prominent member of the American abolitionist movement and set up one of the first anti-slavery societies.

[FIELDING, Henry.] A Dialogue Between a Gentleman of London, Agent for two Court Candidates, and an Honest Alderman Of the Country Party. London: M. Cooper, 1747. First edition, first printing, 4to (221 x 138mm.) Half-title. (Dust-soiling, chipping, spotting and damp-staining to margins, half-title with some losses, text affected.) String-bound. Note: the first printing with no errata to last leaf. Battestin calls it ‘the most skilful of all HF’s serious political writings’, as the mischievous title intends the opposition to believe it is supporting their cause. [The Fielding Companion, p. 175]. Provenance: Ra. Ward (ink name to title).

A Manifesto Containing the Reasons Which have Induced the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, to Declare War Against the Kings of France and Spain, May 8. 1702. London: for A. Baldwin, 1702. 4to (219 x 174mm.) 15pp. (Damp-stained, last leaf with loss, some text affected, chipped, dust-soiled). String-bound. – And a related pamphlet [Otto Zweir van Haven]’s ‘The Sentiments of a Dutch Patriot’, [text affected], 1746, 8vo) (2).

PRESS FREEDOM. The Whole of the Proceedings at the Assizes at Shrewsbury… in the Cause of William Jones, Attorney at Law, Against the Rev. William Davies Shipley, Dean of St. Asaph. For a Libel… taken in short hand by William Blanchard. London: H. Goldney, 1784. 8vo (227 x 146mm.) Half-title, title, 112pp. (Some corner creasing, a few margins shaved, lacking advertisements.) String-bound. Note: an important case that was a milestone in the question of press freedom, and also the right to trial by jury. – And a further four tracts (‘The Proceedings of a General Court-Martial… Upon the Trial of Lord George Sackville’, 1760, 8vo, and ‘A Vindication of the Right Honourable Lord George Sackville’, [1760], 4to, and ‘Animadversions Upon a Seditious Libel, Intituled, The Exorbitant Grants of William III’, 1703, 4to, and a defective work by William Fuller, containing ‘The Depositions of Persons of Worth and Quality, &c’ [circa 1701], 4to) (5).

[HERVEY, John.] Sequel of a Pamphlet Intitled Observations on the Writings of the Craftsman. London: J. Roberts, 1730. 4to (210 x 127mm.) 29pp. (Some leaves uncut, occasional dust-soiling.) String-bound. Note: a critique of the writings of William Pultney and Lord Bolingbroke. Provenance: Mr. Ward Gisborough (ink inscribed to upper wrapper). – And a further twelve political tracts and pamphlets (including ‘A Letter to Mr. P**, on Occasion of his late Letter In Answer to the Remarks, &c’, 1731, 8vo, and ‘Lord Beilhaven’s Speech in Parliament, the Second Day of November 1706. On the Subject-Matter of an Union betwixt the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England’, 1706, 4to, and John Hawles’ ‘The Englishman’s Right: A Dialogue Between a Barrister at Law, and a Juryman’, 1732, 4to, and A. Boyer’s ‘The Political State of Great-Britain’, April 1717, 4to, and ‘The Life of John, Earl of Stair’, part 1 [only], 1748, 4to, and four copies of ‘A Report of the Proceedings of the Committee of Association’, November 1st 1782) (13).

The Duke of Anjou’s Succession Considered, As to its Legality and Consequences; with Reflections on the French King’s Memorial to the Dutch, and what may be the Interest of the Several Princes and States of Christendom, with Respect to the present Conjuncture. London: A. Baldwin, 1701. Second edition, 4to (212 x 167mm.) Title, 2pp. ‘Preface’, 56pp. (Dust-soiled, corner creasing, chipping, inner margin tear to first leaves.) String-bound. – And a further seven political tracts and pamphlets (including ‘The Dangers of Europe, from The Growing Power of France with Some Free Thoughts on Remedies’, second edition, 1701, 4to, and Thomas Comber’s ‘A Vindication of the Great Revolution in England in A.D. MDCLXXXVIII’, 1758, 8vo, and ‘A Compleat Collection Of all the Reports, Lyes, and Stories, Which were the Forerunners of the Great Revolution in 1688’, part II [only], 1732, 8vo, and Andrew Ferguson’s ‘A Genuine Account of all the Persons of Note, in Scotland, Who are now engaged in the Service of the Chevalier’, second edition, [1745?], 4to, and Jean-Ignace de la Ville’s ‘Two Memorials of the Abbé de la Ville, Together with The French King’s Declarations, Transmitted by the Said Minister to the States General of the United Provinces’, 1747, 8vo, and ‘A Serious Defence of Some Late Measures of the Administration; Particularly with regard to the Introduction and Establishment of Foreign Troops’, 1756, small 4to) (8).

BALL, Robert Stawell. An Atlas of Astronomy. London: George Philip & Son, 1892. First edition, 4to (210 x 183mm.) Half-title, 72 plates, tissue-guards. (Mild toning, tape repair to title, mounted pencil notes to front pastedown.) Original blue cloth, gilt zodiac symbols to upper cover and spine, g.e. (extremities rubbed). Provenance: Barbara Goldart (ink name to title and half-title). – And a further three volumes (George F. Chambers’ ‘A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy’, 3 vols., 1889-1890, 8vo) (4).

STEINBECK, John. East of Eden. New York: The Viking Press, 1952. First edition, first issue, 8vo (211 x 137mm.) (Mild toning.) Original green cloth (slightly bumped spine ends), dust-jacket (minor loss at head of spine, slight chipping). Note: with ‘bite’ for ‘bight’ on p.281.

SYNGE, J.M. The Playboy of the Western World. Dublin: Maunsel & Co. Ltd., 1907. First edition, 8vo (193 x 125mm.) Portrait frontispiece of the author, 4pp. publisher’s advertisements at rear. (Mild toning, endpapers browned.) Original cloth (some staining, spine ends rubbed, damp-staining to lower cover, ink marks to spine). Note: on its Dublin premiere at the Abbey theatre the audience were outraged, especially over the scandalous use of the word ‘shift’.

THOMAS, Dylan. Under Milk Wood. London: J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1954. First edition, first impression, 8vo (182 x 118mm.) (Slight spotting to fore-edge, ownership name scribbled over on front endpaper.) Original brown cloth, dust-jacket (chipped at top of spine).

BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (illustrator). – H. de Vere STACPOOLE. Pierrot! A Story. London: John Lane at The Bodley Head, 1896. First edition, 8vo (165 x 116mm.) Title, 16pp. publisher’s advertisements to rear, illustrated endpapers by Beardsley. (Toning, light browning to endpapers.) Original cloth illustrated by Beardsley (some staining to upper cover, fading to spine). Note: this is volume 1 of the four volume Pierrot’s Library series issued by John Lane. – And a further volume (John Galsworthy’s ‘The White Monkey’, signed by the author, 1924, 8vo) (2).

FLEMING, Ian. For Your Eyes Only. London: Jonathan Cape, 1960. First edition, first impression, 8vo (189 x 121mm.) Original black cloth with white eye design to upper cover (lightly bumped spine ends), dust-jacket (slight abrasions to spine panel). Note: price of 15s to the inner flap of dust-jacket. Provenance: John R. (ink name inscribed to front endpaper).