The Infamous Essay on Woman, or, John Wilkes Seated Between Vice and Virtue

An illustrated limited edition account of John Wilkes' life and controversial career. Limited to two thousand copies. This copy is out-of-series.Compete in two volumes, one being the special reading copy.In the original paper covered slipcase, in a near fine condition.A biographical account of John Wilkes, the eighteenth century radical journalist and politician. This work focuses primarily on his publication of the infamous 'Essay on Woman'.'Essay on Woman' was a pornographical poem Wilkes wrote with Thomas Potter on the courtesan Fanny Murray, being a parody of Alexander Pope's 'An Essay on Man'. The poem ended up being read in the House of Lords and was declared obscene and blasphemous, causing a great scandal. Due to it, Wilkes was declared an outlaw in 1764.Both volumes are illustrated throughout.By Adrian Hamilton. One volume is in the original publisher's quarter cloth binding with marbled paper to the boards, the other is in the original publisher's wraps, together in a paper covered slipcase. Externally, smart. Very light rubbing to the paper wraps volume. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. A couple of marks to the slipcase, in a near fine condition. Fine.…