Authors starting with C from Stuart Bennett Rare Books

Hull: Printed by Thomas Topping, Lowgate, 1822. 29, [1]pp., sm. 8vo. A few minor spots and stains, blank fore-edge of title just a little crinkled. Disbound. First edition, by an unusually learned actor. Calvert’s parents had him trained for the Catholic priesthood, which he spurned. Such was Calvert’s talent that at the peak of his career he alternated leading parts with actors such the elder Kean, W. C. Macready, and the elder Vandenhoff. This pamphlet offers a cogent defence of the the... more information

London: From the Parnassian Press; for Vernor and Hood, 1804. [ii], 179, [1]pp., sm. 8vo. Engraved frontispiece by Fitler after Craig (lifeless Ella from the medieval-style “Egbert and Ella”) and two woodcut plates. A little minor spotting, but a nice copy in contemporary marbled calf gilt; extremities rubbed. First edition, the title poem invoking gods, goddesses, nature, and the author’s predecessor poets from Horace to Shakespeare, and with miscellaneous poems on subjects as varied a... more information

Oxford: Printed at the Theater for Anthony Peisley [et al.], 1717. 32pp., 8vo. Small area of black scribble in the title gutter (Eric Quayle attempting to obliterate an old Penzance Library inkstamp), but a nice copy in modern calf-backed boards. With Eric Quayle’s book-label on front pastedown, and some pencilled notes (e.g., “Rare!”). First edition of this modern version of a pseudo-Chaucerian poem which first appeared in John Stow’s 1561 edition, written in what has been called &... more information

London: Printed by W. Woodfall, 1771. [vii], iii, [1], 6-226, [2]pp., 4to. With a preliminary list of subscribers, a terminal leaf of advertisements and, following the advertisements, the inserted, octavo, “Errata Typographica” submitted “by a Scholar of the deceased Author.” Small embossed library stamp on the blank corner of the title and an ink number on verso, but a large copy, neatly bound in calf-backed marbled boards, antique. First edition, a posthumous production containin... more information

London: Printed by H. Hughs, for J. Walter, 1773. 2 vols., sm. 8vo. First couple of leaves in each volume a little dusty, but a large and pleasant copy in contemporary sprinkled calf, spines gilt; rubbed, with the upper joint of Vol. I partly split but holding. Uncommon first edition of the author’s most famous and important work; it went through countless editions over the next fifty years. While still in her twenties Hester Chapone published letters on women in Samuel Johnson’s Rambler an... more information

Stockport: Printed by J. Clarke, 1796. [ii], xii, 184, [2]pp., 8vo. With a preliminary leaf, blank except for “Entered at Stationers’ Hall,” a subscribers’ list, and a terminal errata leaf, attractive woodcut printer’s ornaments throughout. A large and fresh copy in contemporary russia gilt; upper joint split but holding. First edition, by a nineteen year-old, dedicated to his schoolmaster at the Free Grammar School, Manchester. The preface declares the young author’s gr... more information

London: Printed for Henry Colburn, 1817. [iv], xii, 200pp., 12mo. With the half-title, the last four pages (197-200) are publisher’s advertisements. Modern wrappers. First edition of previously-unpublished personal letters from Chesterfield, with an unsigned preface explaining their publication and some of the other characters in the letters, which included (as the boy’s schoomasters) Cuthbert Shaw, previously a strolling player, and Samuel Johnson’s friend William Dodd, who was hanged ... more information

London: Printed for Luke Meredith, 1685. [xvi], 142, [2]pp., 8vo. With the terminal leaf of publisher’s adverisements; a few insignificant stains and early pen-marks, upper corner off pp. 85-86 affecting only the page-number, no front free endpaper. Contemporary ownership inscription “Jo: Myddelton his book” on title. A very nice copy in contemporary, certainly publisher’s, sprinkled dark sheep; spine extremities a little rubbed. First edition of the author's only book, publi... more information

London: Printed for Hen. Brome, 1675. [iv], 91, [1]pp., 12mo. With the initial licence leaf; two small marginal wormholes, one at top and one at bottom, touching one letter of title imprint, the text otherwise unaffected. Disbound into the original four gatherings, making a nice, perfectly sound little exemplar of economical printing practice during the last quarter of the seventeenth century. Apparently the second edition, not so stated, sometimes referred to as the “first edition, second issue,... more information

London: Printed, And Dublin Reprinted by and for I. Jackson, at the Globe in Meath street, 1743. [viii], 214, [2]pp., 12mo (6 x 3½ inches). Woodcut portrait, this printed on the verso of the half-title and included in the pagination, with a final leaf of publisher’s advertisements; a well-used copy with some corners rounded, especially at the end, with loss of some page-numbers and the occasional letter, but all text perfectly intelligible, and the entire book lovingly restored (with a few v... more information

[London:] Willoughby & Co., 22, Warwick Lane, [circa 1850]. [iii]-xx, [3]-620pp., 8vo. Engraved frontispiece, additional title, and 58 plates by T. Onwhyn. A fine copy in full red morocco by Root & Son, spine richly gilt, t.e.g. An early edition, and very possibly a reissue of the first edition sheets, which first appeared under the imprint of Robert Tyas in 1840 with the same pagination as here. Richard Willoughby, the publisher, seems frequently to have bought up unsold sheets at a discount ... more information

London: Printed for J. Walthow, 1731 . xii, 251, [1]pp., sm. 8vo. Some browning and occasional soiling throughout. Contemporaray panelled calf; neatly rebacked. First edition, including several poems by women, many others about them, and many on Irish subjects. One is called “A Poem in Praise of Nastiness. To Cindercola Scrub” (it begins “O Goddess of the dirty hue!/ With eyes so red, and cheeks so blue. . .”). I last handled a copy of this miscellany in 1981, and here fall... more information

London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, at the Judges-Head, 1694 . [xvi], 79, [1]pp., 4to. With leaf G1 in the first state, uncancelled (see below), this and leaf H1 apparently slit for cancellation and now expertly and near-invisibly repaired. Printed on variable paper, mostly on stock described by Pforzheimer as “distinctly gray.” An unusually fine and fresh copy, handsomely bound by Philip Dusel in blind-panelled full calf, spine fully gilt. First Edition, first state, with leaf G1 slit for ca... more information

London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1791. 2 vols. in one: viii, 246; [iv], 232 pp. 8vo. Short clean tear in Vol. I, pp. 225-226 and Vol. II, pp. 143-4 without loss of text and with all paper present. A fresh and handsome copy in contemporary half calf, spine gilt, with ticket “Bound by Watkins & Parker Stationers, Church Street, Hereford” on front pastedown. First edition, posthumously published and edited by the author’s son. Cotton is best remembered for Visions in Verse, an adaptation... more information

London: Printed for A. Millar in the Strand, 1759. [viii], 135, [1]pp., 8vo. With the initial blank leaf, this with a contemporary engraved portrait by R. Strange after a medallion pasted on. A fine, fresh, and attractive copy in contemporary red morocco gilt, g.e.; upper joint cracked but firm and the spine head very slightly chipped. First edition, with the satires preceded by a life of Ariosto by Temple Henry Croker who also translated the second and last of the poems. The others, as Croker states ... more information