1772 Writings & Genius: Shakespeare, Eliza. Montagu

Description: [Elizabeth Montagu], An Essay on The Writings and Genius of Shakespear, Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets with Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentations of Monsieur de Voltaire, Third Edition, Printed by H. Hughs near Lincoln’s Inn-Fields; For Edward and Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, 1772, provenance of John Jeffries, 288 pages, 8.5 x 5.5", 8vo. In fair condition. Full leather boards normally scuffed at edges and worn/bumped at corners. Head and tail of spine rubbed; gilt lettering and deco bright and clean. Front gutter split at front fly-leaf with some exposed cording. Previous ownership bookplate found on front paste-down: "Dr. John Jeffries." Off-setting from bookplate found on front end-page and fly-leaf. Front end-page torn at tail of gutter. Light toning throughout text-block, mostly at edges of leaves. Some sparse instances of foxing or finger-soiling. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. Elizabeth Montagu (née Robinson; 1718 – 1800) was a British social reformer, salonniere, literary critic and writer and helped to organize and lead the Blue Stockings Society. In London, Elizabeth began to be celebrated as a hostess. She organized literary breakfasts with Gilbert West, George Lyttelton and others. Card playing and strong drink were forbidden from these convocations, where known as Blue Stocking Events. Her home became the premiere salon in London. Samuel Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Edmund Burke, David Garrick and Horace Walpole. In our book she proclaims that Shakespeare was the greatest English poet. She also attacks Samuel Johnson’s Preface to Shakespeare from 1765 for not having gone on to praise Shakespeare’s plays enough. John Jeffries (1744 – 1819 using Old Style Dating, 1745 – 1819 using New Style) was an American physician, scientist, and military surgeon with the British Army in Nova Scotia and New York during the American Revolution. He is best known for accompanying French inventor Jean-Pierre Blanchard on his 1785 balloon flight across the English Channel. Jeffries is credited with being among America’s first weather observers. He took daily weather measurements in Boston in 1774, as well as taking observations in a balloon over London in 1784. National Weatherperson’s Day is celebrated in his honor on February 5th, his birthday. Archive Collections at Amherst College holds a collection of his papers, including a letter he dropped from the balloon during his historic flight, considered the oldest piece of airmail in existence. He and Jean-Pierre Blanchard are the first human beings to cross the Channel by air. RAREB1772BOPA 04/2020RAREB1772BPOA - 09/24 - HKREV45

Price: 500 USD

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2025-01-12T23:20:30.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.38 USD