This edition of the Quaver chapbook is uncommon: WorldCat does not find any institutional holdings of this Walker printing, and NSTC lists only a slightly different title.

•  This ed. not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Page edges untrimmed, several with short tear from outer margin; pages slightly age-toned, otherwise clean.  (37201)

There is at least one other variant of the first piece, also printed in 1700, “For A.H.” according to its colophon. It seems likely that the two speeches were in the present case issued together — the paper and type match, and the second speech is paginated “(2)” — although these examples were later separated and existing cataloguing records are inconsistent regarding the number of leaves that should be present. Sets of the two pieces together are scarce.

•  ESTC R182313 / R33479; Goldsmiths’-Kress 03732; Wing Q160. Removed from a nonce volume, now in a Mylar folder. Leaves darkened and creased, both lower margins irregularly torn with loss of approximately 20 words. First speech with nick affecting two letters of the title.  (18234)

•  Not in Shaw & Shoemaker. Removed from a nonce volume; stapled and respined with archival tissue. Six-digit number stamped on title-page.  (198)

•  ESTC T147963; despite the internal absence of publication information, the collation of this volume matches that given by ESTC. Contemporary sprinkled calf, spine with gilt-stamped leather title label and gilt-stamped floral devices in compartments, overall somewhat worn. Small inked ownership inscription to top of title-page. Some foxing, not severe; last leaves dog-eared. One text leaf torn out (being the middle part of one of the epithalamia), as also one preliminary leaf; and so a “busted bibliophile’s copy” — despite its real interest and attractions!  (2257)

•  Publisher's printed yellow paper wrappers over printed paper–covered stiff boards; wrappers with spine sunned, minor edge wear. Contents clean and crisp. Very good.  (34969)

Provenance:  From the library of American collector Albert A. Howard (sans indicia).

Searches of COPAC, WorldCat, and NUC reveal only one U.S. library holding this title and only the British Library in the U.K. Yes, several German libraries report ownership.

•  Not in Adams; VD16 R334.   Modern boards covered in a handsome 16th-century leaf, endpapers with light age-toning/pencilling; remnant of old tab on title-page fore-edge, two leaves missing corners away from text, light to moderate age-toning with the occasional spot and bottom edges untrimmed. Readership markings as above. A scarce and interesting work.  (37795)

•  Publisher's cream paper wrappers; darkened, back wrapper with light spots, spine creased with chip at head. Pages clean.  (35687)

This Italian translation is of Books 17 and 18 of the original seven-volume work (first published Amsterdam, 1770, and an anonymous continuation); dealing strictly with North America, it has much to say about the political turmoil of the English colonies, the Continental Congress, etc., but also about Canada, native Americans, the border regions of Florida and Louisiana, and French interests.

A third volume that appeared in 1780, but is not present here, carried the story “fino alla primavera del 1779 nella quale, oltre alla guerra civile trà la Gran Bretagna, e le Colonie Unite, si descrive anche quella trà la prima, e la Francia.”

•  Echeverria & Wilkie, French Image, 778/67.   Contemporary vellum over paste boards, gilt caramel-colored spine label, all edges blue. Some gatherings of leaves browned from impurities in the water during the paper manufacture, and occasional foxing or other light staining. Without vol. 3, later published, and, that aside, arather nice copy.  (33614)

Bindings:  Six Months: publisher's blue-green moiré cloth, covers with blind-stamped strapwork, spine with gilt-stamped title and convent vignette. Supplement: publisher's brown cloth, covers and spine as above with central element added to original strapwork and spine vignette slightly different.

Provenance:  Six Months with early pencilled ownership inscription of Mary A. Briggs; Supplement with early inked ownership inscription of Evelyn F. Hawkins.

•  Sabin 68578 & 68579; NSTC 2R4869 & 2R4881; American Imprints 33942 & 34440.   Both volumes moderately worn with extremities rubbed and light discoloring to sides; Supplement slightly cocked and Six Months a bit moreso. Mild to moderate age-toning, cockling, and offsetting, with scattered spots of foxing; one leaf in Supplement with lower outer portion torn away, not affecting text.A “mated” pair of which each abets the other.  (36990)

The edition was limited to a total of 240 copies; this is one of the 75 unsigned copies printed for the two American publishers, bound in hand-marbled Fabriano paper done by Susan Johanknecht and Claire Van Vliet. The text was hand set in Walbaum, also by Johanknecht and Van Vliet.

•  Fine, Janus Press 1975–80, 40.   Publisher's lilac marbled paper–covered boards with tan shelfback, front cover with printed paper label. A clean and crisp copy.  (32334)