Authors starting with D from Stuart Bennett Rare Books

London: W. Joy, 1829. viii, 436pp., 12mo. Engraved frontispiece (a bit stained), title printed in red and black, inserted errata slip. A very nice copy in the original, but slightly later, vertically-ribbed green cloth, matching marbled endpapers and edges. First edition of a fine selection of early ballads, many of them on subjects from the Arthurian romances.... more information

London: Printed in the Year, 1687. 12pp., 4to. Disbound. First edition, a reply to William Darrell’s “Lay-man’s Opinion,” and sometimes attributed to him. The pamphlet supports the King and closes with a page of verse invoking the familiar image of the panther. Wing L747.... more information

Mid-nineteenth century morocco-backed cloth by Henderson and Bisset, Edinburgh, spine lettered “Chap Books 1781-1826.” First published in 1702, Deans’s sad little pamphlet went through at least a dozen subsequent editions before this one, which is recorded in a single copy at Glasgow. Scotland’s Skaith was first published in 1795 and became an immediate sensation. In Stirling alone there seem to have been several editions previous to this one, with at least a sixth, eighth, and ninth... more information

London: Printed and Sold by W. Boreham at the Angel in Pater-Noster-Row, 1718. 71, [1]pp., 8vo. With a leaf of nineteenth-century manuscript notes inserted after the title; title and last leaf dusty and a bit browned, a few other minor stains, but a sound copy. Disbound. First edition: as ESTC puts it, “the introduction and commentary are by Daniel Defoe.” Both are highly interesting, casting doubt on the authenticity of many of these speeches and on the motives for their publication. For... more information

London: Printed for Sam. Briscoe, 1696. [xvi], 128, [16], 129-190, [2]pp., sm. 8vo. With the terminal leaf of errata/advertisements; occasional minor soiling, early ownership inscription “A. Lamont” on title and another “Mr. John Campbell” on flyleaves. An excellent copy, entirely unsophisticated in contemporary blind-ruled dark calf, unlettered; headcap very slightly chipped. First edition of one of the more important and less common Augustan epistolary miscellanies, including a p... more information

London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-mall; And sold by M. Cooper, 1754. 20, [4]pp., 4to. With the half-title, and a comprehensive, closely-printed catalogue of books published by the Dodsleys with details including prices and bindings. A couple of minor spots, but a very nice copy in modern marbled boards. First edition of the publication by a young Cumberland poet. Both this and his only other published poem, The House of Superstition, are usually described as being in Spenserian stanzas, ... more information

London: Printed for G. Wright, 1759. [iv], 151. [1]pp., 18mo. With the half-title. Printed on poor paper, and with some browning and a few very slight marginal tears, still a sound copy in the original blind-ruled sheep; upper cover creased and joints split, but firm on the cords. First edition of an uncommon biography of Pope. Dilworth produced many popular biographies in children’s-book format, and this one could readily be said to be aimed at children as well as more modestly-financed general... more information

London: Printed for G. Kearsley, 1767. xii, 55pp., 8vo. With the half-title (small piece missing from the blank gutter); some browning and with an old paper repair across a horizontal tear along the blank verso of the last leaf. Disbound. Second edition, but a reissue of the first edition sheets with a cancel title. This pamphlet is a version of Dodd's successful 1766 lectures, complete with stage directions, on subjects that were often compared to George Alexander Stevens's Lectures on Heads.... more information

In the Savoy: Printed by T.N. for Henry Herringman, 1669. [viii], 414, [2]pp., 8vo. With the initial and final blank leaves. A fine and very attractive copy in contemporary mottled calf; elegantly rebacked with a fully gilt spine by Philip Dusel. Early engraved bookplate of William, Baron Craven of Hamstead Marshall, and later morocco book-label of the poet John Drinkwater, with his ownership inscription dated 1923. Fifth edition (not so stated), adding for the first time Donne's incomparable ele... more information

London: Printed for Bernard Lintott, 1716. [xvi], lxviii, [iv], 397, [7]pp., 8vo. Engraved frontispiece, and a headpiece of the Burlington coat of arms, both by Gribelin; frontispiece slightly browned, but an excellent copy, printed on unusually high-quality paper. Contemporary panelled calf; neatly rebacked and gilt. Contemporary ownership inscription “Philip Southcot” on title. “The Second Edition, Corrected, and Enlarg'd,” the additions including the first appearance of A... more information

London: Charing Cross Publishing Company, 1877. [ii], vi, 195, [1]pp., 8vo. Half-title inscribed “To my dear friends Henry Sherwood Esqr & Mrs. Sherwood their ever sincerely Count G de Croy 67 Oakley Square 8 December 1877”; some minor spotting. Original green cloth, upper cover and spine embossed in black and gilt, g.e.; slightly worn. First edition in English, presentation copy from the translator, from Le Régent Mustel of 1851 and featuring, among some of the “resuscitate... more information

London: Printed for J. Brett. . . and Sold by the Booksellers, 1739. 18pp., folio. A nice large copy in early twentieth-century cloth-backed boards; edges a bit worn. Old note of purchase on lower pastedown: “Parker, Oxford 27.iv.32,” presumably at the pencilled price on the upper pastedown of 18/, reduced from 25/. First edition of this somewhat-updated version; D’Urfey’s poem was originally publushed in 1681. The poem begins in a sylvan setting with a description of “comely... more information