Beschreibung:

The History of a Goldfinch: addressed to those Children, who are Dutiful to their parents, and Humane to their Fellow Creatures, 1st edition, 1805, three copper engraved plates (with faint marginal damp-staining), including frontispiece, all coloured (or partially coloured) by an early juvenile hand, lacking A1 (blank or half-title?), title-page with early ownership name at head, toned and some fox spots, close-trimmed (clipping text in places, and with the occasional loss of a letter), modern buckram, with gilt lettered leather label on front cover, 12mo in 6s. (Apparently unrecorded first edition of this title, which appeared in various guises during the first half of the 19th century. All editions appear to be scarce. The earliest copy on COPAC is that held by Oxford University, undated but with the plates dated 1823. The earliest edition in Lawrence Darton's check-list was published in 1806 by W. and T. Darton (see H705[I]). This 1806 copy also lacks A1, but has slight differences in title and engravings to ours. Osborne lists an 1807 copy (p.259) and states that the book was first published in 1806. The last copy we have traced at auction was sold in 1991 (1823 edition)), together with Newbery (J., pub.), Letters On the most common, as well as important, Occasions in Life, by Cicero, Pliny, Voiture... and Other Writers of distinguish'd Merit; With many Original Letters and Cards, by the Editor. Who has also prefix'd, A Dissertation on the Epistolary Stile [sic]; With proper Directions for addressing Persons of Rank and Eminence. For the Use of young Gentlemen and Ladies, 1st edition, 1756, title-page toned and becoming detached, text block close-trimmed to fore-edge (but no loss of text), bookplate of Dudley Wilson on rear pastedown (rubbed with loss), red edges, mid 19th century dark green half morocco, rubbed, slight wear at head of spine, 16mo in 8s ESTC T53410; Osborne, p.133 (1757 edition); Roscoe J266. Rare. Only two locations for the first edition listed on COPAC (British Library, National Library of Scotland). Not in Gumuchian. The only copies we have traced at auction in the last thirty-five years have been the 1787 reprint. Prior to that there are two auction records in the 1970s for editions of 1757 and 1764. The verso of the title-page reads: To the Parents, Guardians, and Governesses in Great Britain and Ireland, this Collection of Letters Is humbly inscrib'd by Their most obedient Servant, John Newbery'. (2)