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First edition in Italian of Théis’ popular Voyage de Polyclète (1821) written in the mould of the travels of Anacharsis as an introduction to ancient Roman customs and antiquities.

First edition in French of Carl Engelmanns Tagebuch (1800) from Lafontaines’ Familiengeschichten series (1797-1804), translated by novelist Isabelle de Montolieu. Lafontaine’s didactic tales of domestic life, though now little remembered, were among the most-read German novels of the day. OCLC: Bibliothèque Sainte-Genviève, Indiana and Penn State only.

First edition of Genlis’ historical novel, full of overt analogies to the upheavals of the Revolution, written during Genlis’ exile and offered as a sequel to Les Veillées du Château. It appeared in English in a translation by James Beresford as The Knights of the Swan in 1796 (printed for J. Johnson). A measure of its remarkable currency in the literature of the following century is provided by its cameo appearance in Tolstoy’s War and Peace. On an occasion when Prince Andrew visited General Kutuzof, ‘He found him reclining in an armchair, still in the same unbuttoned overcoat. He had in his hand a French book which he closed as Prince Andrew entered, marking the place with a knife. Prince Andrew saw by the cover that it was Les Chevaliers du Cygne by Madame de Genlis’ (X, chapter 16). Cioranescu, 30617; Martin, Mylne & Frautschi, Bibliographie du genre romanesque français, 1751-1800, 95.20.

With Cobbett’s autograph dedication addressed to Pope Pius VIII: ‘To His Holiness Pope Pius the Eighth. The present head of that holy church under the influence of which England enjoyed so many ages of plenty freedom happiness and renown this new edition of the history of the Protestant Reformation is dedicated by and in the handwriting of His Holinesses Most Humble Servant William Cobbett. Kensington [1?]0 May 182.’

A History of the Protestant Reformation describes at great length the means employed by the state to dispossess the English poor, beginning with the crown’s appropriation of church lands during the Reformation. It first appeared in two parts (1824–7) was a bestseller and was several times reprinted, including in this second edition (preceded by at least one stereotyped reprint). Cobbett had enthusiastically espoused the cause of Catholic emancipation; his autograph dedication to the Pope apparently appears in more than one copy.

First edition of the last of Galart de Montjoie’s several novels on a Spanish theme. A Royalist throughout the Revolution, the author spent several periods in hiding, but emerged as a prolific journalist and novelist after the fall of Robespierre, contributing to the Journal des débats, and Journal général de France. Margaret Rees, French Authors on Spain, 1800-1850 A Checklist (1977), As 37. Rare: OCLC lists copies at Bn, National Library of Sweden and Michigan State University only.

Marianne exercised a lively influence on the development of the novel both in France and England, being widely-read on both sides of the Channel. Left incomplete by Marivaux, it was first published in 11 individual parts between 1731 and 1741 and a final part added later by Madame Riccoboni. There were numerous French and English editions: this attractive Cazin-like edition contains all 12 parts, the ‘Londres’ imprint is false, and the second volume bears a Paris ‘chez Laporte’ imprint. cf. Gay IV, 1338 and Cioransecu 42737-42747 (first edition), neither lists our edition. ESTC: BL, Amsterdam Universiteitsbibliothek, Johns Hopkins, McGill and McMaster. OCLC adds no more.

First editions in French of the two novels Old Mortality and The Black Dwarf (1816) from Scott’s Tales of my Landlord, only the second volume of Scott’s fictional works to appear in France (after Guy Mannering). Pseudonymously issued, both in Britain and France, it was listed under the pseudonym ‘Cleisbotham’ in the Bibliographie de France. This is the first of Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Defauconpret’s translations and marks the beginning of Scott’s celebrity in France: ‘the first considerable success’ (Dargan). It is also one of the most influential of Scott’s works in France. ‘Defauconpret’s Les Puritains d’Ecosse gave Scott his first French success and first major European breakthrough. Although partially obscured by Ivanhoe and Quentin Durward, it remained for many Frenchmen the Scott novel Par excellence. Stendhal is among many to call Scott not ‘the author of Waverly’ but ‘the author of Old Mortality’ Often critical of Scott, Stendhal remained an unswerving admirer of Old Mortality’ (Barnaby). It was also frequently alluded to by Balzac throughout La Comédie Humaine.

On the strength of its immediate success, the publisher, Nicolle (the predecessor of Gosselin) engaged Defauconpret to translate subsequent novels as they appeared. Bearing in mind its tremendous influence on French European literature, the French edition is remarkably rare. WorldCat lists copies at Bn, NLS, Universities of Edinburgh, Leipzig and Princeton. E. Preston Dargan, ‘Scott and the French Romantics’, PMLA, Vol. 49, No. 2 (Jun 1934), 2 & 3 (May 3); Paul Barnaby, ‘Another Tale of Old Mortality: The Translations of Auguste-Jean-Baptiste Defauconpret in the French Reception of Scott.’ in Pittock, ed., The Reception of Sir Walter Scott in Europe, 2006; Garside, Raven and Schöwerling, The English Novel 1770-1829, 1816: 53.

First edition of a profusely illustrated Jesuit life of Christ, whose plates were engraved from the numerous devotional pictures by Flemish masters collected by the Jesuit father Jérome Natalis.

First edition. A Royalist throughout the Revolution, the author spent several periods in hiding, but emerged as a prolific journalist and novelist after the fall of Robespierre, contributing to the Journal des Débats, and Journal général de France. A popular novel, making use of the the well-established manuscrit trouvé trope, Hector Berlioz recalled reading it (in a meadow) at the age of 17 (Voyage Musical, 1844). OCLC: BL only outside continental Europe, no US copies.

First edition of the marquis de Surgères’ abridgement of La Calprenède’s massive historical romance on the early history of France, first published in 12 volumes (1661-70). Following the success of his earlier abridgement of Cassandre, he reduces the text of Faramond to manageable size for a contemporary audience.

First edition. An educational epistolary novel about the life of young emigrés during the French Revolution — written the with first-hand experience of exile: Madame Genlis having lived a peripatetic life outside France since 1791. Dedicated to her grandchildren and aimed both at children and older readers, the novel opens with epigrams from Irish-born actor-playwright Arthur Murphy (‘There are three things highly pernicious to the endearments of beauty...... gaming, scandal and politics’.) and Voltaire (‘C’est être un monstre, que de ne pas aimer ceux qui ont cultivé notre ame’). A ‘Hambourg’ edition appeared in the same year, and the book was published in English as The Young Exiles, or, Correspondence of some juvenile Emigrants the following year. Cioranescu, 30621; Martin, Mylne & Frautschi, Bibliographie du genre romanesque français, 1751-1800, 98.44. Worldcat: University of Southern Mississippi

Second edition (printed in the same year as the first) of a popular historical novel set at the time of the French Wars of Religion. Gusedon served in the Napoleonic armies before producing several plays for the theatre and then devoting himself to historical fiction, which he published under the pseudonym Mortonval. This copy has been bound to match several works by Sir Walter Scott from the same library. OCLC locates copies at University of Kentucky (this edition) and Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (edition not stated) only, but there are copies of both first and second edition at Bn.

First edition of one of the bestsellers of the Directoire-era, a clandestine novel of contemporary morality, told by a female narrator. Fiévée is an interesting figure. A journalist, novelist and civil servant, his Royalist sympathies forced him into hiding in the 1790s. Freed by Napoleon, he became an intelligence agent under the Empire and was ennobled. He lived in an openly gay relationship with Théodore Leclercq until his death and the two men share the same grave at Père Lachaise. Martin, Mylne & Frautschi, Bibliographie du genre romanesque français, 1751-1800, 98.41.

First edition, dedicated to Pauline Brady, an admirer of Madame Genlis who had withdrawn to her estate outside Orléans to devote herself to the education of her children according to the author’s methods. cf. Cioranescu, 30660 (edition of 1808, in 12mo).

First edition in French of Lafontaine’s popular novel Leben eines armen Landpredigers (Berlin, 1800-1), the translation by novelist Isabelle de Montolieu. OCLC: UCLA, Princeton and Penn State only outside continental Europe.

First edition in French of Blasche’s Der Papparbeiter, oder, Anleitung in Pappe zu arbeite (1811). The 8 large folding plates depict a large array of miniature folded paper pieces: geometrical shapes, furniture and buildings. One of them is devoted to garden furniture in the oriental style, including a Chinese bridge.

[bound with:] — A plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon. London: William Hall, for Thomas Man, 1612, pp. [viii], 191, [1], complete with first leaf, blank except for signature ‘A’ at foot, third edition, STC 6959;

[and:] — A plaine and familiar exposition of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon. London: R. B[radock]. for Roger Jackson..., 1609, pp.[iv], 1-45, 53, 52-54, 49, 48-49, 48, 55, 153, [3], complete with final blank, second edition, STC 6960;

[and:] — A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seuenteenth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon. London: by Felix Kingston for Thomas Man, 1611, pp.[viii], 157, [3], complete with final blank, second edition, STC 6964;

[and:] DOD, John and Ronert CLEAVER. A plaine and familiar exposition: of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon... London: [William Stansby and Thomas Creede] for Roger Jackson, 1611, pp.[xii], 170, [2], complete with initial and final blanks; second edition, STC 6966.

Five works bound together, 4to (190 × 138 mm), woodcut ornaments and initials. Some light browning throughout, two small wormholes affecting upper line in final two works, becoming a track towards the end. Contemporary limp vellum, spine lettered in manuscript ‘Dod on Ye Proverbs’, soiled, upper hinge broken. Early inscription ’Mrs Joane Saunders’ to head of first dedication, later bookplate (Willey Park) and inscription ‘Jessie Hope - left to J.A.N. April 1900’.

Dod and Cleaver’s Plaine and familiar expositions were a Puritan publishing phenomenon. They were written while the two preachers were under a ban imposed by the Bishop of Oxford after they refused to subscribe to Whitgift’s Three Articles and were an inspiration to the generation of Puritans in England and America. Each book was separately issued and they appear bound up in a variety of formations, the present collection being typical. They were later collected as A brief Explanation of the whole book... of Salomon (1615).

The dedication to Sir Anthony Cope of Hanwell (patron of Dod’s former living in Oxfordshire) explains the desire to stir up evangelical zeal. ‘We are now more willing to make some worke for the Presse, because we have no imployment in the pulpit. And who knoweth, but that others... may be stirred up hereby, to publish some of their godly meditations; that as their faithful labours were formerly like pure fountaines, which did not only refresh their particular congregations: so now, by meanes of printing, they may be made like great and comfortable rivers, to water the whole Lands.’

First edition, which includes the important first printing in English of Valentin Haüy’s Essai sur l'éducation des aveugles (1786).

Blacklock was a pioneer of blind education in the British Isles. ‘He made recommendations about the manner of treatment and the means of education of blind children and adults, and applied his mind to the invention of techniques and devices for the education of the blind. When Blacklock became aware of the new methods of educating blind children being developed in Paris by M. Haüy at the Institut des Jeunes Aveugles he requested a sample of the raised type used to help the children to print and learn to read. Although communication between the countries was disrupted by the onset of the French Revolution, Blacklock received a copy of the book containing the raised text and began translating it into English as An Essay on the Education of the Blind. Blacklock determined that an institution similar to that in Paris should be set up in Edinburgh so that blind children and adults could be educated and earn their living with dignity. Blacklock died at his home in Chapel Street, Edinburgh, on 7 July 1791, after contracting a fever... His ambition to establish an institution to educate blind people was realized through the efforts of his friend David Miller (also blind) and the Revd David Johnston. The Society for the Relief of the Indigent Blind was established in 1793, two years after the first such institution in Britain had been formed in Liverpool’ (Oxford DNB). Jackson, p. 184.

First edition, with two further editions following in the same year. Rare: ESTC listing copies at Bodley, Cornell, Huntington, and Fisher Library, Sydney only.

A verse satire on the eccentric Earl of Abingdon’s former attachment to sporting pleasures (racing, cricket and cards) and his apparent new-found interest in politics, which he expressed in his inflammatory pamphlet of 1777: Thoughts on the letter of Edmund Burke, esq. to the sheriffs of Bristol on the affairs of America. Of An Adieu to the Turf the Monthly Review noted: ‘Some court wit, a knowing one too, has given, in arch numbers, the last words and dying speech of a Newmarket peer. —Very severe on the Earl of Abingdon,— for turning Patriot.’ Abingdon’s colourful youth is the butt of a stream of jokes: from his preference for Hoyle over Horace, to his attempts to apply the rules of cricket to courtship. ‘Scarce fourteen years has pass’d away / When first I thought of am’rous play, / Of Women not afraid: / For them I left more childish Cricket; / I only strove to hit their Wicket,... / And put-out every Maid’ (p. 3). Jackson, p. 60.

First edition of this poetic and artistic memorial to a child; the six year old Penelope Boothby. Its importance lies not so much in its poetry but its illustrations, which include a frontispiece, The Apotheosis of Penelope Boothby, after a painting by Henry Fuseli; a portrait of the child at the age of 4 after a painting by Joshua Reynolds; and an engraving of her stone memorial by Thomas Banks. The poem, together with these three images are eloquent reflections of the Romantic construction of childhood and are the subject of a long and fascinating entry in the Oxford DNB, in which Rosemary Mitchell elaborates the ‘cultural afterlife’ of the infant Penelope Boothby.

Sir Brooke Boothby (1744-1824) of Ashbourne Hall was a child of the British Enlightenment. As a young man he was part of the Lichfield circle which included Anna Seward, Erasmus Darwin, Thomas Day, and the Edgeworths, and he was personally acquainted with Rousseau, who had stayed at Ashbourne in 1766 and who Boothby visited some years later during his continental travels. Rousseau’s influence is felt in almost all his published writings.

He married Susanna Bristow in 1784 and their daughter Penelope, born in 1785, was to be their only child.

‘In 1787 the Boothbys visited Paris, where Brooke met the French artist Jacques-Louis David, and by April 1788 they were in London, where a portrait of Penelope was commissioned from Sir Joshua Reynolds... Allegedly a warm relationship developed between the artist and the sitter, who disappeared from her home one day and was found at Reynolds's house. The portrait, on loan at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, has been described as “one of Reynolds' most successful child-portraits, original in conception and brilliant in execution” (Penny, 319): it depicts Penelope sitting down against a wooded landscape, sporting an oversized bonnet, which earned the paintig the epithet of the Mob-Cap. Higonnet comments that Penelope does not quite fit her clothes: “endearingly miniaturized”, she is the classic Romantic child, representative of an Edenic innocence, “absorbed in childhood”, emblematic of “what we have lost and what we fear to lose” (Higonnet, 28).

Soon after the portrait's completion the Boothbys returned to their estate at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, where Penelope probably spent the remainder of her life. She died on Sunday 13 March 1791, at Ashbourne Hall, after an illness of about a month, during which she was treated by Erasmus Darwin...

The grief of Penelope's parents led both to memorialize her in their separate fashions. A monument to Penelope was commissioned in 1793 from the prominent sculptor Thomas Banks. Made of Carrara marble, it depicted the little girl apparently sleeping, and carried inscriptions in English, Italian, Latin, and French, culled from the Bible, Catullus, Petrarch, and (unsurprisingly) Rousseau. According to the sculptor's daughter, Brooke Boothby used to come daily to view progress on the effigy, and often wept. When Banks's model (now in the Sir John Soane collection) was exhibited at Somerset House in 1793 Queen Charlotte and her daughters were also apparently moved to tears... Boothby also commissioned the artist Henry Fuseli to memorialize his daughter in a painting entitled The Apotheosis of Penelope Boothby (1792; Wolverhampton Art Gallery). With its strong resemblance to an altarpiece, Fuseli's work depicts a winged and elegantly clad angel sweeping down from heaven to receive an elongated Penelope, while a figure representing the daystar indicates the way upwards. On the ground, an urn and an oversized butterfly or moth serve to symbolize death, the fleeting character of human life, and the resurrection of the dead’ (Oxford DNB).
Jackson, p. 214.