PEACHAM, Henry. ~ The vvorth of a peny, or, A caution to keep money. With the causes of the scarcity and misery of the want thereof, in these hard and mercilesse times: as also how to save it, in our diet, apparrel, recreations, &c. And also what honest courses men in want may take to live. By Henry Peacham Mr. of Arts, sometime of Trinity Colledge Cambridge. Now newly reprinted according to order, and made more publick than heretofore: with some additions of notes in the margin; and the Greek and Latin sentences Englished. Now last of all, are added some grave sentences, with many learned observations, in a different letter from the former: printed this 17.th. of May, 1667. London: S. Griffin for William Lee, 1667.
4to (177 × 132 mm.), pp. [iv], [33], bound without final contents and advert leaf. Title within ornamental border. Edges trimmed, especially at head, touching a few headlines, upper forecorner of pp. 32-3 torn away with pagination. Upper margins also slightly frayed, with some old repairs, minimally affecting upper lines in a few cases. Lately rebound in marbled wrappers to style.
An influential seventeenth-century exhortation to thrift and monetary economy. This edition is the fourth printing, being preceded by editions of 1641, 1647 and 1664. It is usually referred to as the third edition, the 1641 edition (which survives in a single copy) having been printed for private circulation only.
“The Worth of a Peny... was first privately issued for presentation to the author's friends, was printed originally, as internal evidence shows, in 1641, and not in 1647—the year which appears, by an error, on the title-page. It was dedicated to Richard, eldest son of Richard Gipps, one of the judges of the Guildhall, London. It discusses, without much plan, the economic condition of the country, but includes many interesting anecdotes illustrating social life. A new edition in 1664 added some biographical observations by a friend of Peacham, who knew him in the Low Countries.” The author is best known for his emblem books and the popular Compleat Gentleman Wing P952.