necessary urban improvements
[DALRYMPLE, David, Sir.]
Proposals for carrying on a certain public work in the city of Edinburgh.
[Edinburgh, 1752.]
8vo (190 × 120 mm.), pp. 16. An inkspot affecting 2 letters of title and affecting text of first four pages, but now faded and text entirely legible. Preserved in modern wrappers. A very good copy.
First edition of a humorous and scatological skit on Sir Gilbert Elliot, Lord Minto's Proposals for carrying on certain public works in the city of Edinburgh which had appeared in the same year: the pioneering work of Enlightenment urban improvement which persuaded the town council to begin its celebrated building projects. Dalrymple's rather ungenerous pamphlet is concerned principally with sewers and the public "necessary-house" and it has recently been argued that while satirical in tone it was actually meant seriously. Dalrymple demonstrated a longstanding and enlightened interest in public health and hygiene as part of the regeneration of human societies (Patrick Cadell sub. Dalrymple, Oxford DNB).
Very scarce. ESTC lists only Harvard and Huntington besides the English and Scottish copies.
£550.00
US$1093.34*
* Given as a guide only. Based on an exchange rate of £1 = US$1.987896 for the day 5 July 2008 but liable to fluctuate.
5 July 2008