The biographical magazine; or, complete historical library. A work replete with instruction and entertainment, and accompanied with such embellishments as have not hitherto appeared in any publication of Europe. By a Society of Gentlemen ...

London: printed for F. Newbery, 1776. 0. Hardcover. Quarto. [iv], 812 [i.e. 808, [ii]pp.] A2-Z2, AA2-ZZ2, AAA2-ZZZ2, AAAA2-ZZZZ2, AAAAA2-ZZZZZ2, AAAAAA2-ZZZZZZ2, AAAAAAA2-ZZZZZZZ2, AAAAAAAA2-ZZZZZZZZ2, AAAAAAAAA2-UUUUUUUUU2. With a final leaf of errata. Pages 453-456 omitted. Modern half calf over marbled boards. With portraits. Roscoe, A39; ESTC T98528. Even though a number of British libraries have copies of this book, only a handful institutions in the US have it. Illustrated with small circular portraits, I have not been able to find a bibliography noting all the peculiarities of this work. Since it was published in parts (per ESTC), there is nothing to determine the number of plates that are supposed to be present. I have not had access to Roscoe's book, 'John Newbery and his successors,' which may possess the information I am lacking. I contacted an institutional library and asked specifically (a) how many plates there were and (b) whether each author had a corresponding portrait. They provided the following information: (a) there are 27 engraved portraits, and (b) each author does not have a corresponding portrait, inclusive of the portrait of the King and Queen. The portraits are small oval portraits set in the centre of a full-page and engraved on much thicker paper than paper used for the book. My copy differs slightly from this institutional library copy and considerably from the digitized University of Pittsburgh copy, which has only 19 portraits, inclusive of the royal portraits. The portrait of the King is cut out in my copy, but mounted on similarly thick paper; the Queen's portrait is missing, and there are 26 portraits of authors. These differences lead me to believe that this book, originally printed in parts, was compiled and gathered together based on the whims of the bookseller and the collector. A very good copy. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 2533

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Illustrated Books

Geraldina: a novel founded on a recent event: in two volumes.

London : Printed for G. G. and J. Robinson . 1798. 0. Hardcover. Duodecimo. Two volumes. I: [ii], 275, [i]pp.; II: [ii], 300pp. I: [A]1, B12-M12, N6; II: [A]1, B12-N12, O6. Contemporary calf, repaired. Black, F.G. Epistolary novel 134; ESTC N7149; Garside, P. English novel, 1770-1829, 1798:3; Block, A. English novel, p. 83. There are three known copies of Geraldina, located at the New York Society Library, the University of Pennsylvania, and Forstliche Bibliothek zu Corvey, with none known in British libraries. The set was recently repaired; and one leaf (Volume II, page 115/116) was restored. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1496

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books

Benezet, Anthony. [PROBABLY ONLY COPY IN PRIVATE HANDS].

Observations on the inslaving, importing and purchasing of Negroes with some advice thereon extracted form [sic] the Yearly Meeting epistle of London for the present year also some remarks on the absolute necessity of self-denial, ...

Germantown [Pa.]: Printed by Christopher Sower, 1759. 0. Soft cover. Octavo. 15, [i]pp. First edition. Disbound. Evans 8298; Sabin 4676; ESTC W1272. Attributed to Anthony Benezet by Evans. This first edition of Benezet's has not been seen in auction rooms for well over one hundred years. Very Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 2532

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Americana

Cowley, Mrs. Hannah.

The runaway. A comedy: As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.

London: Printed for the author; and sold by Mr. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall; Mr. Becket, and Mr Cadell, in the Strand; Mr. Longman, in Pater-Noster-Row; and Carnan and Newbery, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1776. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. [viii], 72pp. []4, B4-K4. First edition. The statement .The dotted lines in the play are omitted at the Theatre. is placed after the prologue. Quarter red morocco over cloth boards by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. J. E. Norton, 'Some Uncollected Authors XVI, Hannah Cowley, 1743-1809,' The Book Collector VII, 1 (1958), pp. 68-76. The author.s first play. Garrick produced the play and wrote the epilogue. Nicoll records that Garrick is supposed also to have made some additions to the comedy. Very Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1879

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Cradock, J. Zobeide.

Zobeide. A Tragedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden.

London: Printed for T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1771. 0. Hardcover. Small quarto. [i]ff. iiipp. [i]ff. 80pp. [ii]ff. []4, B4-L4, M2. First edition. Half brown calf over marbled boards. Tinker 1130 (Goldsmith); NCBEL II, 831. Zobeide, his most successful play, was adapted from Voltaire's exotic tragedy, 'Les Scythes.' Voltaire paid it a compliment in a 1773 letter to Cradock: "Thanks to your muse, a foreign copper shines, Turned into gold, and coined in sterling lines." With his allusions to currency, perhaps Voltaire was subtly suggesting that royalties were due. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1880

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Crisp, Samuel.

Virginia. A tragedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, by His Majesty"s Servants.

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson, and S. Draper, 1754. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. [viii], 74, [ii]pp. [A] 4, B8-E8, F6. First edition. ESTC states that there were two variants, one with the press figure 8 on p. 68 and on without the press figure. This is the variant with the press figure. Priority is not known. C2 (pp. 19-20) is a cancel in virtually all copies: an alteration was made in the first line of text. The first line of page 19 in the cancellandum reads: "Come then, sweet God of wishes, fill this bosom," whereas the corrected state of the same line in the cancellans reads: "Come then, sweet God of love, and crown my wishes." Modern quarter calf over marbled boards. Nicoll III; 249 ESTC T50925; Stratman 1302. Stratman, English Tragedy, 1302: "most scholars, such as Nicoll, Macmillan, and Stone, ascribe the play to Henry Crisp, although the DNB and the CBEL ascribe the play to Samuel Crisp." David Garrick contributed the prologue and epilogue. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1881

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Cumberland, Richard.

The Battle of Hastings, A Tragedy. As It Is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane.

London: Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly, 1778. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. iv, 92 pages. []2, B4-M4, N2. First edition. Margin of title-page repaired. In a modern quarter calf binding over marbled boards. Stratman 1334; New CBEL II, 814. Very Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1356

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Keywords: Bindings

Cumberland, Richard.

The choleric man: A comedy. As it is performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.

London: printed for T. Becket, 1775. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. xiii, [3], 92 pages. A4, a4, B4-M4, N2. First edition. "[Price One shilling and Sixpence]" at foot of title-page. In a modern blue quarter calf binding over blue cloth by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1354

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Keywords: Binding Sangorski & Sutcliffe

Cumberland, Richard.

The fashionable lover: A comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.

London: Printed for W. Griffin, at Garrick's Head, in Catherine-Street Strand, 1772. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. x, [2], 63, [5] pages. Octavo. x, [2], 63, [5]pp. [A]4, a2, B4-I4, K2. With the half-title present. First edition. Advertisement signed: Ricd. Cumberland. In a modern dark blue quarter calf binding over blue cloth by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1355

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Keywords: Binding Sangorski & Sutcliffe

Cumberland, Richard.

The mysterious husband. A tragedy. In five acts. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden.

London: Printed for C. Dilly; and J. Walter, 1783. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. [4], 87pp. []2, B4-L4, M4. First edition. Modern quarter purple goatskin over marbled boards. CBEL II, 453; ESTC N010296; Stratman 1345. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1357

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Keywords: Bindings

Delap, John.

Hecuba, A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane.

London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-mall, 1762. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. [viii], 71pp. []8, B4-K4. First edition. Quarter green morocco over cloth boards by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. ESTC T36072. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1882

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Dibdin, Thomas John.

Five thousand a year, a comedy, in three acts. As performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden.

London: printed by T. Woodfall; for G. G. and J. Robinson, n.d. [1799]. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. [viii], 84pp. []4, B4-L4, M2. First edition. Quarter red morocco over cloth boards. One of the author"s early plays. Very Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1883

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Fine Bindings

Gildon, Charles. [ROBINSON CRUSOE PARODY - FIVE COPIES RECORDED] .

The life and strange surprizing adventures of Mr. D---- de F--, of London, hosier, who has liv'd above fifty years by himself, in the Kingdoms of North and South Britain.

London: printed by Elizabeth Sadleir in School-House-Lane; for Patrick Dugan, Bookseller on Cork-Hill, 1719. 0. Hardcover. Octavo. 36pp. A8, B4-C4, D2. Third edition. Wrappers. ESTC T136523. A parody of Robinson Crusoe published the same year as that work, Gildon's pamphlet contains a vitriolic attack on Defoe and his book. No love was lost between the two men, who had a long-standing mutual animus: Defoe had attacked him as a rakehell, and Gildon disliked Defoe's politics. Gildon was fundamentally a hack, who was prosecuted for seditious libel a few years prior to this work, although he avoided prison and pillory. Kate Loveman's Reading Fictions, 1660-1740 contains an interesting analysis of this work, noting how its critique ironically reflects both Defoe's own methods of criticism and the modes and mores of the coffee-houses. Three copies in the UK and two in North America. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 2539

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books

Goldsmith, Oliver.

The Traveller, or a Prospect of Society. A Poem. Inscribed to the Rev. Mr. Henry Goldsmith.

London: Printed for J. Newbery, in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1765. 0. Hardcover. Quarto. [4], iv, 22, [ii]pp. First edition. With half-title and final ad leaf present. Red morocco by Riviere & Son, repaired. Rothschild 1024; Courtney & Smith, p.113; ESTC T146158; Todd, "Quadruple Imposition," in Studies in Bibliography VII (1955), pp. 103ff. First edition of Goldsmith's first separately published poem, and the first work with his name as author. Todd's fourth state, with the price on the half-title in square brackets, the comma after 'Traveller' on the title, etc. Very few copies each of the first two "states," possibly trial editions, are known to exist. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 2718

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books

Hanway, Jonas.

An Historical Account of the British Trade over the Caspian Sea: with a Journal of Travels from London through Russia into Persia; and back again through Russia, Germany and Holland. To which are added, The Revolutions of Persia during the Present Century

London: sold by Mr. Dodsley; Mr. Nourse, Mr. Millar, Mr. Vaillant, and Mr. Patterson; Mr. Waugh; and Mr. Willock, 1753. 0. Hardcover. Quarto. Four volumes. I: xx, 399pp.; II: xv, [i], 374, [xv]pp.; III: xv, 255pp.; IV: xv, 301, [20]pp. I: a4-b4, c2, A4-Z4, Aa4-Zz4, Aaa4-Ddd4 (Ddd4 blank); II: a4, b2-c2, A4-Z4, Aa4-Zz4, Aaa4, Bbb2-Eee2; III: []4, b2-c2, A4-Z4, Aa4-Ii4; IV: []4, b2-c2, A4-Z4, Aa4-Pp4 (- Pp4 blank), Qq2-Uu2. With half-titles to volumes III and IV present. First edition. The volume statements on the half-titles to volumes III and IV read: 'Vol. III' and 'Vol. IV' but the title-pages have 'Vol. I' and 'Vol. II' respectively. Title-page to volume III reads: 'The revolutions of Persia: containing the reign of Shah Sultan Hussein, with the invasion of the Afghans. ' Title-page to volume IV reads: 'The revolutions of Persia: containing the history of the celebrated usurper Nadir Kouli.' Nineteenth century quarter brown morocco over cloth. With 4 engraved allegorical frontispieces, 9 engraved folding maps, 10 engraved headpieces, and 16 engraved plates. Kress 5268; Cox I, 255; Goldsmiths' 8801; Nerhood, To Russia and Return 88. With the cold stamp of Lansdowne House. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1981

Catalogue: First Editions, Eighteenth Century Books, Travel