CHESTERFIELD, EARL OF -GEORGE GREGORY.: The Elements of a Polite Education; carefully selected from the letters of the late Right Honble Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to his son. By G. Gregory, D. D.

London : printed for R. Phillips, sold by T. Hurst and J. Wallis...by Lackington, Allen, and Co [S. Hamilton, printer, Falcon-Court] [1800]

12mo, pp [12],456 [including 4 pages of instructional books published by Phillips at the end], engraved frontispiece [dated 1800], contemporary quarter red roan, marbled sides, spine gilt ruled, spine a bit faded and chipped at head, else a sound clean and tight copy, FIRST EDITION; one of the many conduct book spin-offs from Chesterfield's Letters to his son, here distilled into a series of moral lessons that nevertheless preserve the letter format and there can be no doubt this was designed as a didactic rather than literary text, and a model of moral guidance for the young. £125.00 REF 31559

COWLEY, JOHN.: The Sailor's Companion, and Merchantman's Convoy : Shewing the military power of the Lord High-Admiral, ...

12mo, pp [12], 153, [3, adverts for Ewing's books], bound in contemporary plain sheep, rubbed and worn at corners, joints cracked and internally reinforced, various early ink graffiti on blank endpapers and other blanks, some small corner creases and signs of use, but generally a good sound copy internally,

FIRST DUBLIN EDITION, from the first London edition of T Cooper, issued the previous year. Both printings are extremely rare. In his dedication to the Commissioners of the Lord High Admiral the author speaks openly of hoping for some kind of naval preferment for having written this book, having been so far denied it. But although he professes to speak to a general public the content is quite specialized, and falls into a class of book given to young boys upon going to sea, and as a basic educational guide it would have been quite informative. Maritime handbooks of this period are often adorned with primitive sailor images and this copy is no exception, a rather nice three master depicted on the rear endpaper, another two which a rather curious caricature on the inner blank, plus a few others. The calligraphic ownership is of one Thomas Robinson. A book that would have quickly gone out of date, so copies are consequently now very rare, this Dublin imprint recorded ESTC 1 copy BL plus 3 copies Ireland, and 2 USA. £350.00 REF 28558

FABLES OF BIDPAY [TRANSLATED JOSEPH HARRIS].: The Instructive and Entertaining Fables of Pilpay, an ancient Indian philosopher. Containing a number of excellent rules for the conduct of persons of all ages, and in all stations: under several heads.

London, Printed for S. Birt and Dan Browne, 1754.

12mo, pp [2],ix,[9],231,[1], with an engraved frontispiece and 20 engraved plates, each having three images depicting a fable specified in the text, bound in contemporary calf, sometime neatly rebacked [if with slightly paper dye], with raised bands and red label, a very good neat clean copy,

THIRD EDITION; Joseph Harris's pioneering English translation of Bidpay first appeared in 1699, taken from a slightly earlier French source of Gilbert Gaulbin, itself translated from a Persian original. Bidpau became a popular fable source in both French and English, though never to rival Aesop. All sources give the original of this translation as the work of Joseph Harris, an obscure dramatist and actor, in 1698, but this original has proved elusive to track down. The two editions before this one, both by Birt, appeared in 1747 and 1752, and follow the present format closely. The preface gives no further clue as to origins, and it is hard to believe that any earlier editions than 1747 exist for the instruction of children. £350.00 REF30880

FENNING, DANIEL.: The Universal Spelling Book: or, a new and easy guide to the English language...the fortieth edition, with additions.

London, J Barker, ?1788.

12mo, pp.153, [3], with integral frontispiece comprising 3 woodcuts, 8 oval woodcuts illustrating fables , without frames, in the text , bound in original sheep, sides with simple blind patterned borders, spine plain but rubbed and chipped the boards holding on the cords, the front board reinforced internally, a sound clean copy throughout,

'FORTIETH EDITION', though it is unlikely that the edition statement caries much significance. In fact Fenning's little work had been reproduced in hundreds of different printings from all corners of the English speaking world since its first appearance in 1756. Of that first printing only the BL copy is known, but many editions, including this one, are unrecorded, and in their variety of presentation if not much of content they make a fascinating field of study. By the time of this edition by Barker in the 1780's the book had settled into a set pattern with a woodcut frontispiece depicting different contexts of learning and play, plus 8 woodcut illustrations in the text. Pagination varied only in whether, as here the pages were numbered to include prelims, as here, or prelims were numbered separately; the illustrations were copies from publisher to publisher and varied in detail if not subject. Barker in fact produced at least 2 editions [both called 'Fortieth'], this unrecorded one, and another with prelims numbered dated to post 1792. This one can be dated earlier as Table 2 on page 152 makes reference to 'this present year , viz 1788.' Such evidence may be disputed but not dismissed, and this date was regularly changed by the printers , as comparison with similar editions indicates. Apart from being unrecorded this printing, a neat and careful one as it happens, has the virtue of condition on its side, the text quite clean throughout. £250.00 REF 31451

N., J.: Select Lessons in Prose and Verse, from various authors, designed for the improvement of youth. To which are added, a few original pieces.

Tamworth : printed and sold by B. Shelton,1785.

12mo, pp [4], 140, half title present, bound in original sheep backed blue boards, worn at corners, spine leather wormed in places but holding soundly, front free endpaper removed, top blank portion of half title cut away, the text itself quite clean and sound throughout.

FOURTH EDITION; this anthology schoolbook was printed several times before in Bristol, but all editions are rare, this one of special interest as a rare early Tamworth printing. The Bristol editions are attributed to one 'J N, including the original material in poetry and prose in the latter part of the book. This is, perhaps, a typical example of a West Country provincial schoolbook of the period, and a rare survival, with only the BL and Oxford copies recorded. A fifth edition printed in Tamworth in 1798 appears to be a straight reprint of this one, but suggesting continuous use in whichever school or schools it was designed for. £125.00 REF 30922

NEWBERY, JOHN.: Poetry made Familiar and Easy to Young Gentlemen and Ladies, and embellish'd with a great variety of the most shining epigrams, epitaphs, songs, odes, pastorals, &c. from the best authors. Being the fourth volume of the circle of the sciences,

Printed for J. Newbery, at the Bible and Sun, in St. Paul's Church-Yard,1748.

32mo, pp [4], 224, bound in original sheep, worn at corners, chipped at spine ends, cracked at joints but holding, internally quite sound and clean throughout,

SECOND EDITION; actually the second issue of first edition which had appeared in 1746 under the title 'The art of poetry made easy, .. Being the seventh volume of the Circle of the sciences', here reissued with a new title page and dedication. An early Newbery publication which is far more than an anthology, but a guide for children on how to approach their choice of reading and how to interpret it. This attempt at some kind of critical approach, however, elementary, was something of a novelty in English children's literature [though not, it must be said, in French]. The early printings of this title are rare, the first edition recorded BL only, this second edition BL and Oxford UK, plus 6 USA. Dedication signed: John Newbery £275.00 REF 31495

NEWBERY, JOHN.: Logic made Familiar and Easy: to which is added, a compendious system of metaphysics or ontology. Being the fifth volume of the Circle of the sciences,

London : printed for Francis Power and Co. grandson to the late Mr. J. Newbery, 1789.

London, printed for Maurice Atkins, and sold by Edward Nutt, 1715.

32mo, pp xl, 264, bound in original green vellum backed marbled boards with paper label, the sides rubbed, the label [as usual] soiled and illegible, else a very good sound copy,

FIFTH EDITION, published as the fifth volume in Newbery's 'Circle of Sciences.' Once again, Goldsmith's name occasionally crops up as contributor, and certainly this is a heavy enough subject for a busy publisher to indulge his valuable time. Nevertheless, the dedication to the young Marquis of Tavistock is signed by Newbery. This edition is interesting as bearing the imprint of Francis Power, Newbery's grandson who got involved in the publishing side between 1789 and 1792 [Roscoe]. He subsequently left the book trade and became a successful wine- merchant until well into the 19th Century. We might all consider it time to time. Roscoe, J66 (5)Alston, VII, 231 £200.00 REF31465

RILEY, GEORGE [PUBLISHER].: A New Moral System of Geography, containing an account of the different nations ancient and modern: their situation and climate-their rise and fall-their customs and manners; including a description of each country, and their respective productions by which commerce has been established, and society cemented for the good of mankind. Adorned with the dresses of each country. The third edition, much enlarged.

London : Printed for G. Riley and sold by S. Hazard, Bath, 1792.

16mo, pp [6],250,[4, adverts], engraved frontispiece, folding world map, wood-engraved country emblems in text, bound in original sheep, plainly rebacked, some wear to edges else sound, internally lightly browned else good,

THIRD EDITION; Riley little textbook was to be a supplement to his five-volume historical library and is often found separately as issued. There is little to suggest that this edition differs much from its predecessors, and the map is dated to 1790. In this work Riley gives a breakdown of world geography continent by continent then country by country. The continents are each allotted a rather grandiose woodcut emblem, with each country a small oval emblem heading the text. Before all this there is a general cosmological discourse with text illustrations. The woodcuts throughout are charming and if not by Bewick are of comparable quality. Though externally worn and repaired to the spine, this copy is internally clean and complete. £200.00 REF 31522

WILSON, GEORGE. ['teacher at an academy in London'].: The Youth's Pocket- companion: or, Universal Preceptor. Containing what is absolutely necessary for every young man to know and practice, under the following heads, viz. A plain and easy grammar of the English language, ... By George Wilson, ...

London : printed for J. Cooke, [1756?]

12mo, pp [4],142, engraved frontispiece, bound without pages 109 to 136 in contemporary calf, short clean tear to one leaf, neatly rebacked with elegant label, a very good copy apart from defects,

FIRST EDITION. a rather nice copy of a defective book, with sections on law missing. These two section have indeed been carefully crossed through in early ink from the contents page in what may well be a deliberate amendment to this copy. Hard to be categorical, for certainly no other copy traced so ‘mutilated’. A single recorded copy of this first printing, presumably complete, is recorded at Nottingham, with a second of 1769 in the BL, though this one is severely incomplete. The work itself covers the usual general requirements of elementary grammar, arithmetic, and other allied subject areas, including law, letter-writing and conduct of life, all useful for a boy about to enter the world of business. It's rarity surely justifies inclusion here, and this copy bears the early booklabel of Richard Blofeld of Abingdon, Berkshire. Alston, III, 264 £85.00. REF 30893