Ancient mysteries described
London: William Hone, 1823. 8vo. [ii], 300 pp. (contents misbound before preface). FIRST EDITION. With 4 copper-engraved plates (1 folding) and several woodcut engravings in text. Modern quarter-red morocco over red cloth, gilt-tooled and lettered with five raised bands on spine; former owner signature on title, 3-inch tear to p. 58, otherwise a very nice copy. Item #14169
First edition of a collection of excerpts of religious and historical significance taken from unpublished manuscripts in the British Library. Hone cites a desire to share “the results of certain desultory reading, intimately connected with that class of literature which is especially dear to me from accidental acquaintance with it in childhood, and stolen intimacies, during thirty years of life.” More than this, these documents were used for Hone’s defense in three trials against him for several satirical pieces he published which were directed against the government.
Hone (1780-1842) was an bookseller and printer as well as an author. He collaborated frequently with Cruikshank, most famously for the Political house that Jack built in 1819.
Price: $250.00