[BREWER, George.]
The Siamese Tales: being a collection of stories told to the son of the Mandarin Sam-Sib, for the purpose of engaging his mind in the love of truth and virtue. With an historical account of the kingdom of Siam. To which is added the principal maxims of the talapoins. Translated from the Siamese.
London: for Vernor and Hood, and Champante and Whitrow, 1796.
8vo (166 × 100 mm.), pp. [vi], ii, 196, [2] including half-title and final advertisement leaf, plus engraved frontispiece by Cook after Corbould. Offsetting from turn-ins to half-title, spotting to verso of frontispiece. Contemporary tree sheep, flat spine with gilt rules, later paper spine label lettered in manuscript, extremities worn, joints cracked but cords secure. Inscription "S.E.A. Lechmere 1796" and later bookplate of Edmund Lechmere of Severn End (dated 1917) to front pastedown. A good copy.
First edition of Brewer's anonymously-published collection aimed at a juvenile audience. The miscellaneous writer and novelist had visited China in his youth when serving as a midshipman, but it is unclear where he gathered his materials for these purported translations. Some of the Tales appeared also in the European Magazine, to which Brewer contributed (Oxford DNB).
£800.00
US$1588.64*
* Given as a guide only. Based on an exchange rate of £1 = US$1.985799 for the day 25 July 2008 but liable to fluctuate.
25 July 2008