Authentic Memoirs, Memorandums, and Confessions
- SIGNED
- London: J. Parsons, 1790
London: J. Parsons, 1790. Full Description:
[ANONYMOUS]. Authentic Memoirs, Memorandums, and Confessions. Taken from the Journal of His Predatorial Majesty, the King of the Swindlers. London: J. Parsons, [n.d.c.a. 1790].
First edition. Octavo (8 x 5 inches; 204 x 125 mm). viii, 184, 195-300, [1, errata], 1, blank] pp. With skips in pagination but collates complete. Although the final leaf reads "End of the First Part", no second part is known. This Journal covers the years 1780-1784.
Contemporary half calf over marbled paper boards. Spine stamped in gilt. Brown leather spine label, lettered in gilt. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Some minor rubbing to boards along edges and joints. Title-page repaired along inner gutter margin. Some light toning throughout. Previous owner's old ink signature on title-page. Overall very good.
This journal by the anonymous "King of the Swindlers gives a detailed account on the various scams and swindles in which the subject was implicated. Most of names in the text being lightly disguised. According the the introduction by the publisher "This singular miscellany fell into the Editor's hands through the carelessness of its owner, who left it on the seat of a hackney coach... He was instantly succeeded by a lady, who took possession of his journal, and after satisfying her own curiosity, gave it to the Editor; earnestly recommending the exposure of its contents, for the information and benefit of the community. Tue mere possession, under these circumstances, did not, in the Editor's opinion, authorize his publishing, or justify his retaining it: he therefore advertised the manuscript, -offering to resign it to the bearer of any memorandum or confession, agreeing in substance and character with the original ; and declaring his determination (if not claimed in a given time), to prepare it for the press, and to publish it as soon as possible. Having thus satisfied every punctilious consideration, and no claim being made; he hath fulfiled his promise, and discharged his duty to the public, by promulging its contents."
HBS 69478.
$1,500.
[ANONYMOUS]. Authentic Memoirs, Memorandums, and Confessions. Taken from the Journal of His Predatorial Majesty, the King of the Swindlers. London: J. Parsons, [n.d.c.a. 1790].
First edition. Octavo (8 x 5 inches; 204 x 125 mm). viii, 184, 195-300, [1, errata], 1, blank] pp. With skips in pagination but collates complete. Although the final leaf reads "End of the First Part", no second part is known. This Journal covers the years 1780-1784.
Contemporary half calf over marbled paper boards. Spine stamped in gilt. Brown leather spine label, lettered in gilt. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Some minor rubbing to boards along edges and joints. Title-page repaired along inner gutter margin. Some light toning throughout. Previous owner's old ink signature on title-page. Overall very good.
This journal by the anonymous "King of the Swindlers gives a detailed account on the various scams and swindles in which the subject was implicated. Most of names in the text being lightly disguised. According the the introduction by the publisher "This singular miscellany fell into the Editor's hands through the carelessness of its owner, who left it on the seat of a hackney coach... He was instantly succeeded by a lady, who took possession of his journal, and after satisfying her own curiosity, gave it to the Editor; earnestly recommending the exposure of its contents, for the information and benefit of the community. Tue mere possession, under these circumstances, did not, in the Editor's opinion, authorize his publishing, or justify his retaining it: he therefore advertised the manuscript, -offering to resign it to the bearer of any memorandum or confession, agreeing in substance and character with the original ; and declaring his determination (if not claimed in a given time), to prepare it for the press, and to publish it as soon as possible. Having thus satisfied every punctilious consideration, and no claim being made; he hath fulfiled his promise, and discharged his duty to the public, by promulging its contents."
HBS 69478.
$1,500.