Antiquarian

Secret Memoirs of the Duke and Dutchess of O***** (Orleans) – Madame d’Aunoy – First Edition 1708

Title continues … Intermix’d with the Amorous Intrigues and Adventures of the Most Eminent Princes of The Court of France

Made into English from the Paris Edition. Published in London, and printed by S.P.R. Burrough and J. Baker in Cornhill E. Curll without Temple Bar. E Sanger at the Post-House, and A Collins at the Black Boy on Fleetstreet, and Sold by J. Morphew near Stationers-Hall, 1708

First English edition translated from the French of the 1690’s. Small octavo, 293. Strange pagination as the printer obviously had his pages mixed up so several times out of order but text runs exactly. Rebound in full leather, in period style by Roger Perry. Four raised bands with separate red leather title label to second compartment. Blind rules to bands and board edges. A delightful item.

An expose of the amorous goings on of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans. The Duchess was Henrietta of England (1644-1670) youngest daughter of King Charles I. She fled England at the age of three with her governess for the French Court. She married King Louis XIV brother Philippe Duke of Orleans. Phillipe a reputed bisexual had been party to a series of sexual scandals prior to the marriage which was secured after the restoration of the Monarchy in England by a dowry from her brother Charles II.

An interesting piece if factually based fiction and not at all vulgar.

The author Madame d’Aulnoy was Marie Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d’Aulnoy (1650-1705). Lucky to have got away with it we would say.

Early expose of the amorous lives of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans.

$290.00

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The Private History of the Court of England – An Expose – Sarah Green – 1808

Two volumes, second “corrected” edition published by the Author. Small, 287, 252 pages bound in contemporary half red roan, with really rather striking marbled paper rubbed a little at joints and ends, very clean internally, a very good set of a rare item.

A political satire, secret history and sexual expose exploring the sexual morality of Regency Society through a historical novel based on King Edward IV. Irish born, Sarah Green (1790-1825) wrote this at an early age … people grew up more quickly then. Sadly she died young. Although we can find references to novels she purportedly wrote around the time of her birth so we question the official record.

Rare expose on Regency Society ………. Sure to entertain ..

$140.00

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The Hermit of Warkworth – Catnach Press Alnwick Northumberland – Thomas Percy 1806 – Special Provenance

This work had been published in the 1770’s in London. Penned by Thomas Percy and concerning his family.

This edition is of special interest as it was produced by James Catnach of Catnach Press, Alnwick, Northumberland (the seat of the Percy family), Catnach Press has a special position in the history of English printing. The illustrations from wood cuts by Thomas Bewick who would become famous for his beautiful natural history engraving particularly birds. Catnach was to publish a work based on Buffon.

Special provenance … owned by George Skelly September 19th, 1861 who was an expert on Catnach and lived at The Market Place, Alnwick. If you have never been there, then you should it’s a magical place. There is an inscription from Skelly to Charles Hindley dated Alnwick June 9th, 1876. Hindley a prolific author was to write the definitive history of the Catnach Press and separately James Catnach. He records his thanks for assistance given by Skelly in both.

The Hermit of Warkworth a Northumberland Ballad in Three Fits (Parts), 170 four line verses in all. Marked as a second edition but dated as the first 1806. Dedication to the Duchess of Northumberland dated October 1805. Small octavo, 102 pages, the equivalent of the last three pages has been bound in in manuscript. Exceptionally neat and in the hand of gift giver George Skelly. The work also contains a short poem to the Duchess; and an “Advertisement” referencing Warkworth Castle and the Hermitage (another special place … more so) and Brinkburn Priory; and the Postscript which deals with the history of the Hermitage. At the end of each “Fit” are a few pages of notes regarding the use of language, places, historical events etc.

We must give you a few lines from the First “Fit”.

Dark was the night, and wild the storm,
And loud the torrent’s roar;
And loud the sea was heard to dash
Against the distant shore.

Musing on man’s weak hapless state,
The lonely hermit lay;
When, lo! He heard a female voice
Lament in sore dismay.

With hospitable haste he rose,
And wak’d his sleeping fire:
And snatching up a lighted brand,
Forth hied the reverened sire.

All sad beneath a neighbouring tree
A beauteous maid he found,
Who beat her breast, and with her tears
Bedew’d the mossy ground

O weep not, lady, weep not so;
Nor let vain fears alarm;
My little cell shall shelter thee,
And keep thee safe from harm.

The Hermit of Warkworth – Based on a True story – and another Magical Place … we love it!

$140.00

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The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith -1791

This is a single volume from Goldsmith’s Works published by Morison, Perth and Edinburgh.

What makes it interesting as a single volume is that it contains all of his Poetical works along with his narrative on Lord Bolingbroke and Dr Parnell.

Bound in full original calf with separate red leather title and a volume label. Small octavo, 209 pages, with two full page copper engraved plates. Page edges speckled the whole generally in very good antiquarian condition.

Some quite lengthy and beautiful poems such as … the Deserted Village, the Traveller, the Hermit … and some amusing ones … A Description of an Author’s Bed-Chamber, the haunch of Venison and we quote here partly due to brevity … Epitaph on Edward Purdon

Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,
Who long was a bookseller’s hack;
He led such a damnable life in this world, -
I don’t think he’ll wish to come back.

Goldsmith explains … This gentleman was educated at Trinity College, Dublin; but having wasted his patrimony, he enlisted as a foot soldier. Growing tired of that employment, he obtained his discharge, and became a scribbler in the newspapers. He translated Voltaire’s Henriade.

Oliver Goldsmith interesting Poetry and funnier than you thought.

$60.00

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Paradise Regain’d a Poem in Four Books to which is added Samson Agonistes: and Poems upon Several Occasions – John Milton – 1753

A second edition, with notes from various authors by Thomas Newton, published by Tonson, Draper and others, London in 1753.

Bound as one thick octavo … First Volume – Paradise Regain’d over 203 pages after preliminaries; Samson Agonistes pages 207-325; Second Volume – Poems upon Several Occasions 386 pages plus “Index of the less common words occasionally explained and illustrated in the Notes”.

Contemporary full leather binding rebacked at an early date, raised bands to spine with later in period title and author labels to the second and third compartments. Four copper engraved plates by Grignion from drawings by Hayman. Very little ageing or foxing a pretty clean set

For those unfamiliar, Milton was hugely praised for his earlier work Paradise Lost. It is suggested that Quaker Ellwood had put to him “but what about Paradise Found” and from that suggestion Milton produced Paradise Regain’d which was first published in 1671. About one fifth of the length of Paradise Lost it is largely based on the temptations of Christ as recorded in the Gospel of St Luke.

Samson Agonistes (Greek “the Champion) was published at the same time bound together as here. A tragedy that Milton never intended to be “played” … Samson the betrayal of Delila, losing his hair and consequently his strength and his sight (Milton was losing his at this time) and the destruction of the Temple. Handel based his famous oratorio on Milton’s work … the oft quoted expression “Eyeless in Gaza” was used by Aldous Huxley to title his novel of that name.

The many poems include The Passion, On Time, Upon the Circumcision, At a Solemn Music, Song … On May Morning, On Shakespear [then spelling], A Mask. Sonnets include … To the Nightingale, On his being arriv’d to the age of 23, When the assault was intended to the City, To a virtuous young Lady, to the Lady Margaret Ley etc Psalms … numerous and in Latin

Carries the bookplate of Robert Barker who was a tutor, Censor Philosophicus, Dean of Chapel at Queens’ College Cambridge at the time of publication. He was personal tutor to the Polish Prince Poniatowski.

Mid 18th century Milton in full leather period binding

$240.00

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Secret Memoirs of the Duke and Dutchess of O***** (Orleans) – Madame d’Aunoy – First Edition 1708

The Private History of the Court of England – An Expose – Sarah Green – 1808

The Hermit of Warkworth – Catnach Press Alnwick Northumberland – Thomas Percy 1806 – Special Provenance

The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith -1791

Paradise Regain’d a Poem in Four Books to which is added Samson Agonistes: and Poems upon Several Occasions – John Milton – 1753

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