Sexagenarian; or, the Recollections of a Literary Life
- London: F.C. and J. Rivington, 1817
London: F.C. and J. Rivington, 1817. First Edition. Two octavo volumes. 19th-century polished calf; spines in six compartments with gilt ornaments; viii,435;380pp. With manuscript key to identities laid in to each volume (see note). Some rubbing to joints (external), but holding strong, and overall and attractive, Very Good set in an attractive contemporary binding. From the library of bibliographer William Todd, with a small sheet of his notes laid in.
Final work, issued posthumously, by William Beloe (1756-1817), a bibliophile and miscellanist, briefly keeper of printed books at the British Museum (a position from which he was dismissed following a series of thefts that occurred during his tenure) and author of a six-volume guide-book for collectors, Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books (Lon: 1807-1812). Beloe's cantankerous memoir is so full of parting shots that he felt the need to identify most of the figures mentioned in it only by their first initials. Lowndes writes: "These volumes for presumption, mistatement, and malignity, have rarely been exceeded, or even equalled." In 1820 a key to the Sexagenarian was published, revealing the identities of Beloes' targets; this must have been copied by many readers because it is customary to find the book (as here) with a manuscript key laid-in. LOWNDES I:152.
Final work, issued posthumously, by William Beloe (1756-1817), a bibliophile and miscellanist, briefly keeper of printed books at the British Museum (a position from which he was dismissed following a series of thefts that occurred during his tenure) and author of a six-volume guide-book for collectors, Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books (Lon: 1807-1812). Beloe's cantankerous memoir is so full of parting shots that he felt the need to identify most of the figures mentioned in it only by their first initials. Lowndes writes: "These volumes for presumption, mistatement, and malignity, have rarely been exceeded, or even equalled." In 1820 a key to the Sexagenarian was published, revealing the identities of Beloes' targets; this must have been copied by many readers because it is customary to find the book (as here) with a manuscript key laid-in. LOWNDES I:152.