Titles starting with R from Stuart Bennett Rare Books

London: Printed, and sold, by Andrew Sowle, at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway-Lane, 1687. [xvi], 143, [1]pp., sm. 8vo. With pp. 133-143 containing the poem “Advice to a Son” printed vertically and with wide margins. An excellent copy in the original blind-tooled sheep; expertly rebacked and restored preserving most of the original spine. First edition of a significant distillation of the principles of toleration, published in the early and comparatively halcyon days of James II’s rule. W... more information

London: Printed and Published by T. Goode, 30, Aylesbury Street, [circa 1850]. 24pp., 12mo. Woodcut frontispiece and illustrations, first and last leaves pasted to wrappers, as issued. An exceptionally fine, partly unopened, copy in the original printed pink wrappers. Apparently the only edition. Todd, Directory of Printers, puts Thomas Goode at this address between 1846 and 1859. No copy in OCLC and only one (Bodley) in COPAC. ... more information

London: Printed and Published by R. Harrild, [circa 1810]. an Interesting Tale for Youth. [iv], 71pp., 18mo. Woodcut frontispiece, title vignette, and three plates, variously attributed to Bewick and Cruikshank. Original roan-backed drab boards; neatly rebacked. Ownership inscription “Richard Turner 1817” on front paste-down. Apparently the first and only edition, a rather erudite novel for children, with many asides on subjects such as rural sports (“the country. . . converted into a t... more information

London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1734. Containing the Chief Rules. . . of Metaphors. Of Affectation in Style. Of Lashy Styles. Of the Use of Foreign Words. Of the Laconick Style. . . Vogue not always a sure Proof of a good Writer. . . . With brief Observations. . . on Denham, Dodwell, Dryden, Cowley. . . . xvi, 246, [2]pp., 8vo. Title leaf a cancel, with a terminal leaf of advertisements for Henry Lintot (see below). Nice copy in calf-backed marbled boards antique, spine gilt. First edition, second iss... more information

London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orne, 1810. By the author of the “Tale of the Times,” “Infidel Father,” &c. 3 vols., 12mo. With the half-titles, and a terminal leaf of advertisements for other “Works Written by Mrs. West” in Vol. II. A very nice copy in contempoary half black morocco gilt; extremities a little rubbed. First edition of a more rambling, more wildly satiric, investigation of Regency mores than Mrs. West could undertake with her previous ... more information

London: Printed at the Logographic Press, 1789. or, Summary Directions, in Verse. 16pp., sm. 8vo. A very good copy, disbound First edition of this verse adaptation. Johnson’s profoundly sensible treatments for insensible people were first published as a prose pamphlet earlier in the 1780s and went through several editions. His advice includes not to induce bleeding, to continue gentle not violent motion, and “despising all absurd exploded ways” such as electrical shocks, emetics, and ot... more information

London: William Pickering, 1852. By the author of Visiting My Relations. iv, 290, [4]pp., sm. 8vo. Title inscribed “To Mrs Green - a token of affectionate remembrance from the Author - June 21, 1852.” With a catalogue of Pickering publications at end. Original cloth, paper spine label a little chipped and the lower endpaper replaced. First edition, presentation copy, a fine introspective autobiography of a nineteenth century literary woman whose early novels, influenced by Jane Austen, gave w... more information

London: Henry Colburn, 1827. By the Author of Brambletye House, The Tor Hill, etc. 3 vols., large 12mo. Without the terminal advertisement leaf in Vol. II. A fine fresh copy in a strikingly handsome contemporary binding of half pale calf over marbled boards, spines fully gilt with double red morocco labels. First edition, by the satirist, poet and novelist, friend of Shelley and Leigh Hunt, and imitator of Sir Walter Scott. This is the third of Smith’s historical novels reflecting Scott’s in... more information

London: William Darton and Son, [circa 1832]. [ii], 32pp., 16mo. Lithographed frontispiece and three plates, printed statement “Price Sixpence Coloured”; short tear to frontispiece near-invisibly repaired, some minor staining, but an attractive copy in the original printed stiff yellow wrappers, these stating the book to be “with copper-plates” and “sold also by Harvey and Darton. . . and John Harris.” One of many retellings of the Robin Hood story, this a highly romantici... more information

London: Printed for Longman. . . and John Harris, 1815. [ii], 298, [1]pp., 12mo. Engraved frontispiece by Romney dated 1812; a little browning and minor staining. Contemporary half calf, spine gilt; a bit worn, but sound, front free endpaper missing. Second edition, not so stated; the first was published in 1812. This is one of two children’s books by Mrs. Roberts, who died young. She was a friend of Amelia Opie, who wrote a notice of her life for the posthumously-published adult three-decker, D... more information

London: C and J Ollier, 1821. In Six Cantos. The Game. The Salon. The Palais Royal. The Sharper. Frescati. The Guillotine. Versailles and other Poems. 215, [1]pp., 12mo. With the half-title; title with old Italian library stamps; a couple of leaves partly sprung. Original cloth-backed boards; worn with the printed paper spine label partly chipped. Second edition, published soon after the first and with a new “Advertisement” dated April 9th, 1821. This is a detailed and expert poem about... more information

London: Printed for J. Harris, Successor to E. Newbery, 1805. being a series of Family Dialogues, in which the Causes and Effects of the various Phenomena of Nature are Rationally and Familiarly Explained. xx, 386pp., 12mo. With the half-title, and four engraved plates. A fine copy in contemporary tree calf, spine fully gilt. “A New Edition, Carefully Revised and Enlarged, by the Rev. Thomas Smith.” The dialogues are set in “a noble and spacious museum” in the Devonshire home of Sir... more information

London: William Darton, 1820. or, a Peep into Village Concerns. Designed to Instruct the Minds of Children. 72pp., 18mo. Engraved frontispiece and 17 plates; a few leaves slightly sprung, small, old, marginal tape-marks at beginning and end. Original red roan-backed boards; worn but sound. First edition of one of Mary Elliott’s most attractive and engaging books, an introduction to country pursuits for middle-class town children. As Marjorie Moon notes, each of the plates “is accompanied by... more information