THE NEW BATH GUIDE, MEMOIRS THE B-N-R-D FAMILY SERIES POETIC EPISTLES

Vernor, 1807. ANSTEY, Christopher. THE NEW BATH GUIDE OR, MEMOIRS OF THE B-N-R-D FAMILY IN A SERIES OF POETIC EPISTLES. London: Vernor, Hood and Sharpe (et al), 1807. Early boards with a newer light-brown calf leather spine; 155 pages, with four-page publisher's catalog in rear. New edition, the first edition was published in 1766. This satirical poem in epistolary form is about the Blunderhead family in Bath and won praise for its humor. Tobias Smollett was influenced by this work in writing "The Expedition Of Humphry Clinker". The Anstey book consists of a series of letters in anapaestic verse, describing the adventures of the "Blunderhead Family" at Bath (a famous English spa) and depicting the manners of the place and time with humor and drollery. The ink name of Bath resident Caroline Hower, dated 1810, on the front pastedown and title page, dated August, 1810 (looks like fore-edge pages have been trimmed at some point & cut off some of the date on the title page). Good (some wear boards with new leather, some scattered foxing primarily to the plates; front & rear hinges reinfroced with brown, library-type cloth tape). $45.00.