SHAKESPEARE. THORNBURY (George Walter):

Shakspere's England; Or, Sketches of the Social History in the Reign of Elizabeth.

London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman, 1856. FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 8vo, 182 x 115 mms., pp. viii, 416; viii, 424, fine inscribed copy to Eton schoolboy, bound in full polished calf, gilt rules on borders, spines ornately gilt in compartments, green morocco titling labels, olive morocco numbering labels, marbled end-papers and edges. A fine set with the presentation inscription on the recto of the front free end-paper in volume 1, "Evelyn, Henry, Villebois, Burnaby/ with the best wishes of his/ friend and Schoolfellow/ Stewart, J, C. Ducket./ On his leaving Eton/ Election 1864." The author George Walter Thornbury (1828-1876) is best known for his two-volume biography of the great painter J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851). As William Charles Mark Kent said in the DNB, Thornbury's "most important independent publication was his 'Life of J. M. W. Turner,' from original letters and papers (2 vols. 1861). He wrote the whole of it under the watchful observation of Mr. Ruskin; and, as Thornbury himself remarked to the present writer, it was 'very much like working bareheaded under a tropical sun!' ". The present Shakespearean work was written some years prior to Thornbury's labouring under Ruskin's daunting gaze. This set of Shakspere's England (1856) is finely bound, is in fine condition, and has a playful inscription from one Victorian Etonian to another Victorian Etonian, with such a profuse use of commas that it must involve some sort of private joke. Ignoring the commas for a moment, the inscription reads, "Evelyn Henry Villebois Burnaby / with the best wishes of his / friend & Schoolfellow / Steuart J C Duckett. / On his leaving Eton / Election 1864." Born into an important land-owning Irish family, Duckett of Duckett's Grove, in county Carlow, Ireland, the presenter of the set was Steuart James Charles Duckett (1847-1915). After Eton, he became a member of the 13th Hussars. Later, he was High Sheriff of County Carlow, and the Hon. Secretary of the Carlow and Island Hounds, as well as being the founder of the Irish Counties Polo Club Union. The recipient of the set was Evelyn Henry Villebois Burnaby (1841-1924). After Eton, he became a clergyman and legal writer. He wrote the popular book Memories of Famous Trials (1907). Also a travel writer, he detailed his traversal of the nation in A Ride from Land's End to John o'Groats (1893). It is rare to find an example of what is called an "Eton leaving book" which is so early, so finely bound, and remains in such fine condition -- as well as having a fine inscription. An exemplary relic from the Victorian Age.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9252

Catalogue: History

Keywords: history sociology prose

SHARP (Granville):

An Account of the Ancient Division of the English Nation into Hundreds and Tithings: the happy effects of that excellent institution; -that it would be equally beneficial to all other Nations and Countries, as well under monarchical as republican establishments;-and that, to the English Nation in particular, it would afford an effectual means of reforming the Corruption of Parliaments by rendering the Representation of the People perfectly equal, in exact numerical Proportion, to the total Number of Householders throughout the whole Realm. Intended as an Appendix to several Tracts on National Defence, &

London: Printed by Galabin and Baker..., 1774. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 8vo (in 4s), 205 x 128 mms., pp. 370, original boards, uncut; boards a bit knocked about and soiled, spine defective, an unprepossessing copy of a book as issued. Sharp (1735 - 1813) published over sixty works in his lifetime, though he is often remembered today for his association with Wilberforce in the attempt to abolish the slave trade. In this work, he argues rather presciently for universal enfranchisement.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 6315

Catalogue: History

Keywords: history government prose

SHAW (James):

Sketches of the History of the Austrian Netherlands: With Remarks on the Constitution, Commerce, Arts, and General State of these Provinces.

London: Printed for G. G. J. and J. Robinson..., 1786. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. [viII], 310, including half-title, contemporary calf, gilt spine, morocco label; some very slight wear to binding, but a very good copy. Inscribed "From the Author" at the top of the title-page. With the bookplate of the Dunnichen Library on the front paste-down end-paper. Shaw sings the praises of the Emperor Joseph the Second, but his useful and often perceptive work ends with this observation: "general tranquillity is now established in Europe, and gives leisure to Princes to bend their whole care to the government of their dominions. What an accession to the happiness of mankind, if philosophy, which has made such progress in this age, could engage Sovereigns to maintain this happy tranquillity, and to seek their chief glory in the improvement and just regulation of the States that are committed to their charge!" The work was translated into French in 1788. ESTC T105639 locates seven copies in British libraries (L, Csj, O, Owo, SAN, SHp) and eight copies (CSmH, CU-SB, ICN, ICU, KU-S, MSaE, NNUT, PPL) in United States libraries. There is also a copy at GOT.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1827

Catalogue: History

Keywords: history PROSE

SOMERVILLE (Thomas):

The History of Great Britain during the Reign of Queen Anne. With a Dissertation concerning the Danger of the Protestant Succession; And an Appendix, containing Original Papers.

London: Printed for A. Strahan; and T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies..., 1798. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 4to, 215 x 177 mms., pp. iv, [vi] - xvii [xviii Errata], 674 [675 - 676 adverts], recently recased in quarter calf, morocco label, marbled boards; title-page soiled and creased, ex-library with handwritten library ownership on first page of text. The erratic pagination is a printing error. Thomas Somerville (1741 - 1830) began collecting materials for his historical works in 1782, and this volume was preceded by his History of Political Transactions and of Parties from the Restoration of King Charles II to the Death of King William III (1792). A native of Hawick, Roxburghshire, he received a honorary D. D. from St. Andrews in 1793 and was also elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was also the author of My Own Life and Times, first published in 1861, and an invaluable guide to intellectual and literary life in Edinburgh in the latter part of the 18th century. The Critical Review in January, 1789, reviewed it at length, noting that "the literati of North-Britain have acquired a distinguished rank [as historians." Quoting several passages, the review concludes, "The execution of this work will not diminish the reputation which the author had before acquired. It exhibits in disputable marks of great care and attention, and an eager desire of discovering the truth. It displays the requisites of impartiality and moderation, and a regard for that liberty which is consistent with regular government. The style is not free from Scoticisms and inaccuracies; but it is generally precise, and sometimes nervous and dignified, though it has not the splendor of the language of Gibbon or the elegance which adorns pages of Robertson." The Monthly Review noticed the work in 1800, concluding with a modified endorsement: "We have no hesitation in recommending him to the attention of the public, because we have found him intelligent and judicious in his political disquistions, accurate in his facts, and unprejudiced in his representations."

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Book number: 8797

Catalogue: History

Keywords: history Queen Anne prose Scottish Enlightenment

SOUTHEY (Robert):

The Book of the Church. Second Edition.

London: John Murray..., 1824. 2 volumes. 8vo, pp. xxxvii [xxxviii blank, xxxix drop-title, xl blank], 407 [408 blank]; [ii], 511 [512 blank], contemporary polished calf, gilt spines, marbled edges and end-papers; spines slightly worn, but a very good set. From the Easton Neston Library, with library label for shelf mark and the armorial bookplate of Sir Thomas Hesketh, Bart., Rufford Hall Lancashire on the front paste-down end-paper. Geoffrey Carnall in his book Robert Southey and his Age (1960) notes that this attempt to write the lives of the "heroes of our religion" produced an account that "was infected with heresy. In the course of the book he fell foul of several of the Thirty-Nine Articles. He sympathized with Pelagius, an d indirectly attacked St. Paul's teaching on faith. He seemed to think that Romanism would be an excellent religion if it were stripped of its ecclesiastical abuses, and if the popes were men like Fenelon."

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 5430

Catalogue: History

Keywords: history religion prose

WAKEFIELD (Priscilla):

Domestic Recreation; Or Dialogues illustrative of Natural and Scientific Subjects.

London: Printed for Darton and Harvey..., 1805 FIRST EDITION. 12mo (in 6s), 136 x 85 mms., pp. vi [vii Contents, viii printer], 215 [216 blank], 4 pages adverts, including half-title, 4 engraved plates (ex 6) at pp. 77, 83, 89, and 96, contemporary quarter green sheepskin marbled boards (rubbed); corners worn, spine creased. Wakefield (1750 - 1832) began her literary career as an author of books for juveniles in the early 1790s and produced at least 17 books. Most of these were in the familiar dialogue form.

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Book number: 7411

Catalogue: Natural history

Keywords: natural history juvenile women

[WALDRON (Francis)]:

The Literary Museum: or, A Selection of Scarce Old Tracts: Viz., 1.The right Renoumyde Ladies, translated from Boccace. 2. A delicate Diet for daintymouthed Droonkardes, by Gascoyne. 3. Poems of Spenser, not in any Edition. 4. Peacham's Period of Mourning, in Six Visions. 5. Specimen of a New Edition of Ben Jonson. 6. Ceremonies used for healing the King's Evil, consecrating Cramp Rings, etc. 7. On Lydgate's Travelling into France. 8. The New Arcadia, by Belcher. 9. Downe's Roscius Anglicus; or, Theatrical history, &c. &c.

London: Printed for th Editor, 1792. FIRST COLLECTED EDITION. 8vo, 224 x 137 mms., each item separately paginated, recent quarter calf, black leather labels, contemporary boards (rubbed and soiled), uncut. The separate parts were issued between 1789 and 1792, from the collection of the actor and playwright Francis Waldron (bap. 1743, d. 1818), employed by David Garrick in 1769 as a jobbing actor. His skills as a playwright were not impressive, and Trevor R. Griffiths, in his Oxford DNB entry "Waldron's strong literary and antiquarian interests were manifested in his completion of Ben Jonson's The Sad Shepherd (1783) and in editions of John Downes's Roscius Anglicanus (1789), Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde (1796), and Thomas Lodge's Rosalynde (1802). His The Virgin Queen, an unperformed sequel to The Tempest, published in 1797, is generally regarded as one of the worst pieces of drama inspired by Shakespeare." The Monthly Review wasn't impressed: "The advertisement to this volume is signed Francic Godolphin Waldron; but it does not sufficiently explain the nature or extent of the undertaking. It appears to consist of articles entirely detached and separately paged; and as the Literary Museum Nos. I. and III. are incidentally mentioned, we are warranted to conclude the volume to be made up from some publication in numbers, of which we know nothing, but which either is, or ought to be, going on as two or three of the tracts are imperfect."Waldron (1714 - 1718) spent most of his life in the theatre, working initially for David Garrick. This very useful anthology reprints John Downe's Roscius Anglicanus of 1708, a very important source book for information abut the Restoration theatre. The introduction to Mary Astell's An Essay in Defence of the Female Sex is the first item in the collection. Many of the tracts have separate title-page and were separately printed, but the collection is one of the most useful compilations of its kind.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9946

Catalogue: Theatre history

Keywords: theatre history anthology literature

WRAXALL (Nathaniel William):

Historical Memoirs of my Own Time. Part the First, from 1772 to 1780. Part the Second, from 1781 to 1784. Second Edition.

London: Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies..., 1815. 2 volumes. 8vo, pp. vii [viii blank], 561 [562 blank]; [iv], 602, including half-title in volume 2, engraved portrait frontispiece in volume 1, contemporary tree calf, giLt spines, red morocco label on volume 2 only; joints cracked (but frim). Nathaniel William Wraxall (1751 - 1831) was made a baronet in 1813, and the first edition of the above memoirs, published in 1815, sold out within a month; this second edition omits some details found in the first edition. The work was severely reviewed in most of the literary journals.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 1652

Catalogue: History

Keywords: history prose