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Lot 46
  • 46

[Congreve, William]--[Blenheim and Ramillies]

Estimate
6,000 - 9,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • A Collection of Poems, Occasionally Written upon the Victories of Blenheim and Ramillies. By the most Eminent Hands. Now Publish'd in one Volume in Folio. For Jacob Tonson, 1708
  • Printed book
folio, FIRST EDITION, ONE OF TWO KNOWN COPIES AND THOUGHT TO BE FROM THE LIBRARY OF WILLIAM CONGREVE, contemporary blind-stamped panelled calf with inner and outer panels of speckled calf, spine gilt in compartments, morocco lettering piece, modern solander box, occasional spotting and browning, joints and hinges cracking, rubbed

Provenance

William Congreve (Hodges, No. 413); Duke of Leeds; sale of books from the ducal library at Hornby Castle, Sotheby's, 2 June 1930, lot 5, by Quaritch on behalf of Sir Leicester Harmsworth (pencil note "Collated & complete, p. p. Bernard Quaritch Ltd.", 3 June 1930, and the Harmworth commission confirmed Ted Dring of Bernard Quaritch Ltd.); Swann's Auction Gallery, New York, c.1972; Ximenes Bookshop Catalogue 23; John Brett-Smith, sale of his library, Sotheby's, 27 May 2004, lot 124

Literature

Foxon P1079, A30, P1081, C376, W35, C233, R301, C334, P65, F110, H53, V36, V38; Hodges No. 413; NCBEL II p.345 (reference to Sotheby's 1931 Thorn-Drury sale)

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE NONCE COLLECTION CELEBRATING MARLBOROUGH'S VICTORIES, FROM THE LIBRARY OF WILLIAM CONGREVE. The volume comprises a general title, a single leaf of contents ("A Table of the Poems contain'd in this Book...") and thirteen separately published poems, as follows:

[Prior, Matthew.] A Letter to Monsieur Boileau Depreaux... For Jacob Tonson, 1704, first edition--Addison, [Joseph]. The Campaign... For Jacob Tonson, 1705, "third edition", half-title present--[Prior, Matthew.] An Ode, Humbly Inscrib'd to the Queen... For Jacob Tonson, 1706, first edition, half-title present--Congreve, [William]. A Pindarique Ode... For Jacob Tonson, 1706, first edition, tear to B2--[Walsh, William.] Ode for the Thanksgiving Day. For Jacob Tonson, 1706, first edition--[Clay, Stephen.] An Epistle from the Elector of Bavaria to the French King... For Jacob Tonson, 1706, first edition--[Rowe, Nicholas.] A Poem Upon the Late Glorious Successes of Her Majesty's Arms... For Jacob Tonson, 1707, first edition--[Conduitt, John.] A Poem Upon the Late Glorious Successes... For Jacob Tonson, 1707, first edition--Paris, [John.] Ramillies. A Poem... For Jacob Tonson, 1706, first edition--[Fenton, Elijah.] An Ode to the Sun, for the New-Year. For Jacob Tonson, 1707, first edition, publisher's advertisements on final page--Harison, William. Woodstock Park. A Poem. "second edition revis'd"--[Vernon, -- Rev. Mr.] Corona Civica. A Poem... John Nutt, 1706, first edition; The Union. A Poem... J. Morphew, 1707, first edition

Brett-Smith notes that only two copies of this volume were known to him. The first comprised the Thorn-Drury copy (sold Sotheby's, 2🌠3 November 1931, lot 1668 to Dobell.) It is thought that Dobell sold this copy to Professor William Appleton Aiken who appears to have given it to Lehigh University Library, Pennsylvania (shelf mark: 821.08 C6973). This is the only complete copy recorded by the ESTC. The present copy is thought to be William Congreve's copy (Hodges, No. 413). The library passed to the Duke of Leeds family at Hornby Castle. This volume appears to be the one sold by Sotheby's in the Leeds sale on 2 June 1930. The purchaser was Bernard Quaritch Ltd (a pencilled note at the end of the volume reads ", the day after the Leeds sale). A letter from Ted Dring, of Quaritch, states "...we bought it on commission for Harmsworth but I cannot find it in any of the Harmsworth sales..." The volume re-emerged at Swann's Auction Gallery, New York, c.1972, and passed from Ximenes Bookshop to John Brett-Smith. (Hodges's note suggesting that the Leeds Sale copy was the same copy as the Thorn-Drury one in 1931 was thought by John Brett-Smith to be incorrect). It was suggested by Brett-Smith that Jacob Tonson may have issued a small edition of the work, for presentation to the authors or to important patrons or friends. Both known copies are in identical bindings