SINCLAIR (John), Sir: The Correspondence of the Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart. With reminiscences of the most distinguished characters who have appeared in Great Britain, and in foreign countries, during the last fifty years. Illustrated by Facsimiles of Two Hundred Autographs. , London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley..., 1831.FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 8vo, pp. xxxiv, 491 [492 blank], 36, 2, [note, verso blank]; xi [xii blank], 452, 49 [50 blank], including half-title in each volume, engraved portrait frontispiece (foxed) in volume 1, engraved coloured map and 4 leaves facsimiles autographs in volume 1, 5 leaves facsimiles autographs in volume 2, contemporary half calf, raised bands between gilt rules, old black morocco labels preserved, marbled boards (very slightly rubbed). A very good set, with the contemporary autograph "Richd. Almack Melford" on the front paste-down end-paper. Sinclair (1754 - 1835) compiled this selection from his correspondence, and its effect is to suggest Sinclair's own importance. Whether this was the intention or not is unknown, but the manuscripts of many of the letters no longer survive, and the texts printed here are thus of some importance. Among his correspondents are Maria Edgeworth, Edward Gibbon, William Godwin, Thomas Malthus, Hannarh More, Adam Smith, Arthur Young, just to mention a few. One of the chapters is on "the publication of the poems of Ossian in the original." He concludes that the poems are genuine and that "the mountains of Scotland produced a bard, whose works must render his name immortal, and whose genius has not been surpassed, by the efforts of any modern, or even ancient competitor." Perkins 1588. (Book ref. 4018 ) £ 450.00 The payment methods accepted by the seller, John Price Antiquarian Books , are shown in the right-hand column. |
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