TRACT

[Elizabeth Missing Sewell, English author of religious and educational texts.] Autograph Signature (‘Elizabeth M Sewell’) cut from a letter.

Author: 
Elizabeth M. Sewell [Elizabeth Missing Sewell] (1815-1906), English author of religious and educational texts
Sewell
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£25.00
Sewell

An uncommon signature. See her entry in the Oxford DNB. The valediction of a letter, cut away for an autograph collector. On a slip of paper, around 7.5 x 2 cm. Somewhat aged and worn, backed with discoloured card. Reads: ‘Very truly yours / Elizabeth M Sewell’. See Image.

[Religious Tract Society, London.] Seventeen uncommon printed tracts, variously in poetry and prose, including ‘Give it up? - No, never! or, The History of John Brook’ and ‘The Two Colliers; or, The Power of Religion in the Hour of Danger.’

Author: 
Religious Tract Society, London; W. Clowes and Sons; A. Applegarth; J. and C. Evans; J. Davis
Publication details: 
None dated (1820s and 1830s). All 17 titles sold by The Religious Tract Society, at the Depository, 56 Paternoster-row, London. A total of seven with three London printers: W. Clowes and Sons; A. Applegarth; J. and C. Evans. (J. Davis, bookseller.)
£250.00

Seventeen items, each 12mo, 8pp. All uncommon, and two (7 and 17 below) not listed on WorldCat or JISC LHD. All disbound and stabbed as issued. The collection in fair overall condition: some creasing and wear, and a few items discolored. Item 14 with grey staining to front cover. The first item with no illustration; the other sixteen each with a vignette on the front page. One item (4) with a second illustration in text. Item 2 with device of the RTS on the final page.

[Isaac Watts.] Printed pamphlet: ‘The End of Time. / An Extract from Dr. Isaac Watts.’

Author: 
Isaac Watts (1674-1748), English Congregational minister, hymnologist (‘Godfather of English Hymnody’), theologian, and logician
Watts
Publication details: 
No date. ‘No. 4.’ The Religious Tract Society, instituted 1799, 56, Paternoster Row; and 65, St. Paul’s Churchyard. Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Duke street, Lambeth.
£120.00
Watts

Four copies on JISC (only one in a deposit library, NLS); now scarce. 12pp, 12mo. Disbound. Worn and discoloured. After the end of the prose work are two poems (pp.11-12): ‘Hymn. / Frail Life and Succeeding Eternity’ and ‘The Danger of Delay.’ In addition to being the ‘Godfather of English Hymnody’, Watts was a noted logician, producing a successful work on the subject, and despite the repetition of the phrase ‘Time shall end!’ throughout, the present extract treats the subject of ‘The End of Time’ in an unusually thoughtful way for a work of theology.

[John Colbatch: anonymous pamphlet on Trinity College, Cambridge.] A Vindication of the Lord Bishop of Ely's Visitatorial Jurisdiction over Trinity-College In General and over the Master thereof in Particular.

Author: 
[John Colbatch (1664-1748)] Trinity College, Cambridge; Thomas Green (1658-1738), Bishop of Ely
Publication details: 
London: Printed for T. Cooper, the Corner of Ivy-Lane, next Pater-Noster-Row. MDCCXXXII. [1732]
£120.00

44pp, 4to. In poor condition, worn and stained, in damaged remains of vellum-paper wraps. Library stamp carelessly cut away from blank part of title, causing closed cut to second leaf. Six copies on JISC LHD (COPAC); now uncommon. The date of publication is mistakenly given in Colbatch's entry in the Oxford DNB as 1729.

[Rudyard Kipling: rare pamphlet, American first printing preceding English publication.] A Naval Mutiny.

Author: 
Rudyard Kipling
Publication details: 
Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. 1931. ['Printed in the United States at the Country Life Press | Garden City, N. Y.'
£180.00

[2] + 18pp, 8vo. In cream printed wraps, with duplication in green on cover of title-page, but without year. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with crease running next to the spine, slightly at an angle. This American Copyright printing - said to have been limited to 75 privately-distributed copies - was published 13 November 1931, and preceded the English publication (in The Story-Teller magazine, December 1931) by around a month. Stewart 596; Livingston 569. The rare American Copyright issue. Richards A399, Livingston 569, Stewart 596. Reprinted in 1932 in Limits and Renewals.

[Rudyard Kipling: rare first edition.] The Science of Rebellion: A Tract for the Times. Specially written for The Imperial South African Association.

Author: 
Rudyard Kipling [Imperial South African Association, London]
Publication details: 
[Imperial South African Association, London. February 1901.] London: Printed by Vacher & Sons, 20 & 22, Millbank Street, Westminster.
£50.00

10pp, 8vo. Stapled into grey wraps, with the front cover carrying the title, publication details and price (sixpence). P.1 has drop-head title, author's name, and the start of the tract, dated 'CAPE TOWN, | February, 1901.' In fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper, with rusted staple having short closed tear to spine at its head. First published in February 1901 by the Imperial South African Association. It was reprinted in the New York Tribune on 4 August 1901, and is in both the Sussex and Burwash Editions. Livingston 78; ORG Uncollected 237.

[Rudyard Kipling: rare pamphlet.] The . . . Sin of Witchcraft. From The Times, March 15, 1900. Published by the Imperial South African Association. [Drophead title: 'The Sin of Witchcraft']

Author: 
Rudyard Kipling [Imperial South African Association, London]
Publication details: 
London: Printed by George Edward Wright, The Times Office, Printing House Square. 1901.
£160.00

[1] + 8pp, 8vo. Stapled pamphlet, issued without wraps. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, staple inclining towards rust. Publication details on front cover. Drophead title on p.1, 'The Sin of Witchcraft', with the article dated 'CAPE TOWN, February, 1900.' Livingston 76a. Rare.

[ Armorial bookplate of Charles John Shoppee in 'The Handwriting of the Kings & Queens of England by W. J. Hardy, F.S.A. Author of "Book Plates," etc. With photogravures and Facsimiles of Signatures and Historical Documents'.

Author: 
W. J. Hardy [ Charles John Shoppee (1823-1897), 'Citizen and Armourer of London' ]
Publication details: 
Book published by The Religious Tract Society, 56 Paternoster Row and 65, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1893. [ Printed in Oxford by Horace Hart, Printer to the University. ]
£56.00

176pp., 4to. With four photogravure plates and numerous excellent facsimiles in text. A splendid production in red cloth gilt, with tissue guards to the plates and all edges gilt. In good very good condition, lightly aged and worn.

[ Nine pamphlets. ] Eight 'Financial Reform Tracts' and 'Account of the Formation, Principles, and Objects of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, as embodied in the Speeches delivered at a Public Meeting held in Liverpool, Jan. 17, 1849.'

Author: 
Liverpool Financial Reform Association [ Robertson Gladstone (1805-1875), President; Edward Brodribb, Treasurer; Richard Cobden; Major-General Sir William Napier ]
Publication details: 
[ Liverpool Financial Reform Association. ] All nine items 'Printed at the Office of the "Standard of Freedom," 335, Strand, London.' 1848 and 1849.
£220.00

The nine items are all 12mo, and bound together without wraps, with the whole disbound from a volume. In fair condition, with minor signs of age and wear. All titles are drophead. ONE: 'Account of the Formation, Principles, and Objects of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, [...]'. 12pp. TWO: 'Financial Reform Tracts. No. 1.' 16pp. THREE: 'Financial Reform Tracts. No. 2. Pension List. (Second Edition).' 8pp. FOUR: 'Financial Reform Tracts. No. 3. Taxation. - Part I.' 15 + [1]pp. FIVE: 'Financial Reform Tracts. No. 4. The Army, Ordnance, Commissariat, Navy, Colonies.' 15 + [1]pp.

[Tract 'No. 42' by the Manchester New Jerusalem Church Tract Society.] The Golden Wedding Ring; or, A Conversation between a Father and his two Children, on Marriage. [By John Clowes.]

Author: 
[John Clowes; Manchester New Jerusalem Church Tract Society]
Publication details: 
[Manchester : Manchester New Jerusalem Church Tract Society, 1863.] Joseph Hayward, Printer, Market-Place, Manchester.
£38.00

28pp., 12mo. Disbound. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. A dialogue between Paternus and his son Eugenio and daughter Miranda. Ends with two prayers and a poem titled 'Lines on Wedded Love'. Drophead title, with '[No. 42.' in top left-hand corner above it: the details of publication were presumably on the missing wraps. They are supplied from the entry for the only copy traced on COPAC, at the British Library. An extremely popular work in Manchester, where it went through at least ten editions between 1813 and 1868.

[Small printed booklet.] Some Account of Mrs. Henry Ware, Jun. of America. Derived from Dr. Hall's Memoir. By R. L. Carpenter, B.A.

Author: 
R. L. Carpenter, B.A. [Mary Lovell Ware [née Pickard] (1798-1849), wife of Henry Ware, Jun. (1794-1843), Unitarian Minister and mentor of Ralph Waldo Emerson; Edward B. Hall]
Publication details: 
Published by The Christian Tract Society. London: E. T. Whitfield, 178, Strand. [No year: 1850s?] [Letts, Son & Steer, Printers, 8, Royal Exchange, London.]
£250.00

24pp., 12mo. Stitched into brown card wraps. Near fine on lightly-aged paper. Title-page on front cover, and drop-head title on p.1. An excessively scarce item, with no copy listed on COPAC or OCLC.

Three catalogues of publications by the Religious Tract Society ('Illustrated Gift Books', 'The "Pen and Pencil" Series' and general catalogue for September 1906) together with three ephemeral items relating to the Society.

Author: 
[The Religious Tract Society; Victorian booktrade]
Three printed catalogues of publications by the Religious Tract Society
Publication details: 
The general catalogue dated to September 1906, another item from 1899, and the rest undated. [London: Paternoster Row.]
£125.00
Three printed catalogues of publications by the Religious Tract Society

All items unbound. Texts clear and complete. On aged and dusty paper, with some spotting and one item creased at extremities. ITEM ONE: General catalogue (4to, 68 pp). In original yellow printed wraps. ITEM TWO: Catalogue of 'Illustrated Gift Books' (12mo, 12pp). Numerous vignettes. The front page, bearing an engraving of a seagull, headed in red 'Sold by W. EARDLEY, Crewe'. ITEM THREE: 'The "Pen & Pencil" Series.' (12mo, 10pp). Illustrations, including one of the Bishop's Rock Lighthouse. ITEM FOUR: Handbill advertisement (8vo, 4 pp) for 'The Annotated Paragraph Bible'.

The Duties and Encouragements of the Poor. [With wood-engraving.]

Author: 
[Religious Tract Society]
Publication details: 
[Religious Tract Society.] No. 22. [1820?] 'Printed and sold by R. TILLING, 68, Circus-street, Liverpool.'
£56.00

16mo, 8 pp. Unbound as issued. Following slug: 'Price 2s. 8d. per 100. | Great Allowance to Shopkeepers and Booksellers.' Text clear and complete. On aged and grubby paper. Vignette, beneath title, of priest exhorting poor family in their humble home. Separate sections on duties and encouragements, each with numbered sub-sections of 'inspired passages'. Scarce: the only copies on COPAC at the British Library, Lambeth Palace, Manchester and the V&A.

Original illustration, produced for publication, signed 'A. Twidle' and entitled on reverse 'Monkish Robes', showing three monks in the grounds of an oriental (Burmese?) temple.

Author: 
Arthur Twidle (1865-1936), English book illustrator [Burma; Burmese; oriental; the Far East]
Publication details: 
Undated.
£180.00

On a piece of thin card, 30.5 x 23 cm. Dimensions of illustration 23 x 17 cm. Signed by Twidle in bottom right-hand corner. The image itself is clear and sharp, in spotted and grubby margins. Docketed in pencil on reverse 'Monkish Robes | 491 | to 5 inches width | with rule as in picture'. An attractive, detailed watercolour, in black and grey, and picked out in white, showing three monks processing with eyes cast to the ground in different directions in the grounds of stone temple overgrown with foliage.

[drophead title] The Conversion of Martin Luther.

Author: 
James Macaulay (1817-1902), doctor, editor and author of devotional works [Martin Luther; The Religious Tract Society]
Publication details: 
[circa 1890] London: The Religious Tract Society, 56 Paternoster Row, 65 St. Paul's Churchyard, 164 Piccadilly.
£85.00

12mo: 12 pp. Stitched and unbound. Fair, on lightly-aged paper with slight wear to extremities. Numbered 1355 at foot of first page. On first page 9 x 7 cm engraving of the monk Luther reading in a library. Beneath the title the author is described as 'James Macaulay, Esq., M.A., M.D., Author of "Luther Anecdotes," [published c.1883] etc. etc.' Curiously scarce considering the publishers: no copy in the British Library or on COPAC. For more on Macaulay see his entry in the Oxford DNB.

Fairburn's Genuine Edition of the Death-Bed Confessions of the late Countess of Guernsey, to Lady Anne H*******; developing a series of mysterious Transactions connected with the most illustrious Personages in the Kingdom: to which are added, [...].

Author: 
Francis Villiers, Countess of Jersey [spurious, attributed to] [Queen Caroline; King George IV; Lady Anne Hamilton]
Publication details: 
London: Printed and Published by John Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate-hill.
£45.00

8vo: iv + 48 + [ii] pp. Last leaf carries advertisements for works by Fairburn. In marbled wraps. Text clear and entire. On aged paper with slight wear and fraying, small holes and light stains to first four leaves. Title continues '[...] to which are added, The Q-'s last letter to the K-, Written a few Days before Her M-'s Death, and other Authentic Documents, never before published. | [quotation] I am the Viper that has been secretly wounding you both.

Financial Reform Tracts. No. 1.

Author: 
Liverpool Financial Reform Association [Free Trade; Richard Cobden; economic history]
Publication details: 
[Financial Reform Association, Hargreave's Buildings, Liverpool, September, 1848.] Sold by Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., London; and by the Printers, Smith, Rogerson, and Co., 44, Lord-street, Liverpool.
£56.00

12mo. 20 pages. Stitched and unbound. Creased, aged and somewhat dusty. Historic first publication of 'the most persistent and single-minded free trade lobby England has known' (W. N. Calkins, Economic History Review, 1960).

The christmas box or new year's gift.

Author: 
S. G. Green, intro. [The Religious Tract Society; Field & Tuer, The Leadenhall Press]
Publication details: 
London: Field & Tuer, The Leadenhall Press, E.C.
£45.00

Small 8vo. 80 pages. Numerous woodcuts. In original grey printed wraps, with cloth spine. Internally good, with some light spotting and discoloration. Binding worn and grubby; front fep splitting. Ownership inscription. Interesting and informative introduction discusses 'the advance made in less than seventy years in popular art and literature'. Publisher's note (p.xxviii), 'The letter-press of the present volume exactly reproduces that of the original Christmas Box.

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