Titles starting with H from Stuart Bennett Rare Books

London: Printed for J. Debrett, 1789. 22, [2]pp., 8vo. With terminal advertisement leaf; lightly soiled and age-toned. Disbound. First edition of this anonymous play, dedicated by “The Authoress” to George Colman, Esq. In her preface, the Authoress addresses her “fair countrywomen. . . whose literary pursuits, though she ever regrets to see them terminate in Female Pedantry, would, in her opinion, be still more to their honour, were they not too frequently engaged in the dangerous detail... more information

London: Printed for Rest Fenner, 1818. vi, 142, [2]pp., 18mo. Engraved frontispiece of an old pedlar outside Harry’s window, possibly by the author, with a leaf of publisher’s advertisements at end. Original red roan-backed marbled boards; a bit worn and shaken with a stain on the upper cover, but sound. First edition of Jefferys Taylor’s first book, with a preface by his sister Jane who describes it as “chiefly composed during the weeks of a painful illness.” Stewart, The Ta... more information

London: Printed for Whittaker & Co., 1834. 3 vols., large 12mo. Contemporary half russia, spines gilt; Vol. I spine a bit worn. First English edition, originally published by Harper’s in New York. Virtually nothing is known of John Henry Mancur apart from his novels; he is now best-remembered for a series of them on the American Revolution. The New York edition of this novel is comparatively common, but this London one is rare, with OCLC locating only two copies in North America, at Colorado... more information

London: Printed for E. Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul’s Church Yard, 1794. 31, [1]pp., 32mo (4 x 2½ inches). Woodcut frontispiece and six half-page illustrations, first and last leaves pasted to wrappers as issued; a couple of expert repairs to the last leaf touching two letters without loss. A fine and attractive copy in the original Dutch floral wrappers; backstrip near-invisibly repaired. First published in 1788, that edition recorded from a copy sold at Sotheby’s in 1945 and n... more information

London Printed, and Sold by J. Roberts, 1719. 2 vols., 12mo. A sound set in rather worn contemporary calf, spines gilt; spine ends slightly chipped. First collected edition. Philip Horneck appears to have had some medical training: some years ago I catalogued a previously unrecorded 1720 tract by him on venereal diseases in which he proclaimed himself an M.D. This may explain the title of this periodical - Horneck's index defines a High-German Doctor as an “Ostentatious Quack, or Pretender t... more information

London: J. Hatchard and Son, 1844. [iv], 517, [7], 32pp., large 12mo. With the half-title, six pages of original publishers’ advertisements at end, and an inserted catalogue dated June, 1858 of works published for Thomas Hatchard. Original blind-embossed green cloth; neatly rebacked with the original gilt spine. First edition, the trials and tribulations of a young clergyman in English country pages, doubtless based on those of her son Henry, whose life up to and including his Oxford education sh... more information

London: Printed for Harvey and Darton, 1825. viii, 316pp., 12mo. Engraved frontispiece, additional title, and folding map (these a little spotted, frontispiece with a contemporary manuscript description neatly tipped on), one gathering slightly sprung. Original red roan-backed pictorial drab boards. First edition, “presented to young readers,” but “not intended to form one of the earlier steps in the course of their historical studies.” For those the author recommends Maria Hack
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London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1769. 4 vols., 12mo. With the half-titles and the terminal leaf of errata in Vol. IV. A fine copy in contemporary, certainly publisher’s, unlettered tan calf, gilt rules and volume numbers on spines; two small chips to headcaps. Contemporary engraved, apparently Continental, bookplate in each volume. First edition of the first English novel set in Canada. After publishing Lady Julia Mandeville in 1763, Frances Brooke sailed for Quebec to join her husband and stay... more information

London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. de Hondt, 1765. 2 vols., sm. 8vo. With a half-title and terminal advertisement leaf in each volume. A handsome copy in contemporary sprinkled calf, spines gilt; expert repair to the upper joint of Vol. I. Nineteenth century engraved bookplates of Arthur Hugh Smith Barry of Marbury Hall. First edition in English, a decidedly racy epistolary novel about the intrigues of the French aristocracy, originally published in Paris the previous year. Raven, British Fictio... more information

London: Printed for H.D. Symonds, 1793. 56pp., 8vo. With the half-title; small natural paper flaw in one leaf (pp. 5-6) touching a couple of letters but the sense entirely clear. A very nice copy in circa 1900 cloth with manuscript titles on upper cover and spine. First edition of James Montgomery’s very rare first book. Although there seems to be a dissenting opinion or two about his authorship, it is categorically accepted by the New Cambridge Bibliography (III, 392), and was reprinted in Mon... more information

London: Benjamin L. Green, 1850. viii, 160pp., sm. 8vo. Part color-printed and hand-colored frontispiece, and four uncoloured woodcut plates by Dickes, with the half-title. Nice copy in the original green cloth, upper cover and spine elaborately gilt, g.e.; just a little wear at spine head. First edition. Almost all the contributions are by the Sargents, and many on wintry subjects, with the frontispiece showing a particularly nice winter scene full of children. Three copies (Florida, Florida State... more information

London: Charles Knight & Co., 1838. vii, [i], 238, [2]pp., large 12mo. A little spotting. Original blind-stamped green cloth; rebacked with the original gilt spine. First edition, intended to excite “the love of observation . . . by teaching ‘How to Observe.’” There is a long chapter on the philosophical requisites for observation, followed by “hints for travellers and students.” ... more information