London, for T. Beckett and P.A. De Hondt, 1768.
2 vols. First editions. 8vo. Half-titles, list of subscribers, engraved coat-of-arms on D3v of vol.II. Contemporary half calf, simple gilt roll borders to covers, spines gilt ruled compartments within raised bands.
An attractive set of Sterne's final novel, in contemporary full calf binding. Written in part as an answer to Tobias Smollett's decidedly unsentimental Travels Through France and Italy.
Antiquarian
London, Richard Bentley, 1838.
3 vols. First edition in book form, mixed issue (vol.I & II with shortened title with 'Charles Dickens', vol.III with full title and 'Boz' as author, and with the 'fireside' plate). 8vo. 19th century half morocco, spines gilt, gilt edges.
An attractive first edition set of Dickens' classic tale of hardship and hope.
Antiquarian
Comœdia coram Rege Jacobo...
London, Ex officina R[oger]. D[aniel]., 1658.
Third edition. 8vo. Later sprinkled calf, gilt roll borders.
An attractive early edition of this satirical take on La trappolaria by Giambattista della Porta, written to expose the ignorance and arrogance of lawyers.
Viz. Ombre, in all its Branches. Picquet. And, the Royal Game of Chess. Wherein the Frauds in Play are Detected, and the Laws of each Game Annexed to Prevent Disputes. Written for the Use of the Young Princesses.
London, for E. Curll, 1722..
Third edition. 12mo. Contemporary in Cambridge panelled style with blind tooled borders and decorations, sympathetically rebacked in later calf.
An important work on the development of games, and in particular card games, in Britain in the 18th century. Originally published in 1719, 'written for the use of the young princesses', Seymour confidently declared that 'Gameing is become so much the Fashion among the Beau Monde, that He, who in Company should appear ignorant of the Games in Vogue, would be reckon'd low bred, and hardly fit for Conversation.' Whether this was in fact the case or not is hard to say, but certainly the card games he championed, ombre and piquet, did become increasingly popular, and the book ran to at least eight editions. Scarce.