Published by Wells and Lilly, Boston, 1815
Seller: Legacy Books II, Louisville, KY, U.S.A.
Soft cover. Condition: Good. 9pp extract, minor occasional foxing, salvaged from a damaged issue of the North American Review, Volume I, No. III, September, 1815. A contemporary review of the very scarce title that had been printed in 1647 by John Dever and Robert Ibbitson for Stephen Bowtell, London, that is generally considered the first American book of satire or humor. Includes excerpts from the text. Housed in protective mylar report cover.
Published by J. D. & R. I. for Stephen Bowtell, London, 1647
Seller: Janet & Henry Hurley, Westmoreland, NH, U.S.A.
Softcover. Condition: Good. Facsimile. Lacks rear wrap and spine, front wrap chipped on corners, text-block is solid and clean. ; 8vo; Printed wraps, vi, [3], 96p. **The 1843 facsimile printing. The Notice of the Author is by David Pulsifer. The uncut pages are 7 7/8 by 5 1/8 inches. The title page is a cancel reprinting the cover title.
Published by Salem Press Company, Salem, Massachusetts, US, 1906
Seller: Begging Bowl Books, Lincoln, United Kingdom
Cloth/Paper Covered Boards. Condition: Very Good. Limited Edition. Facsimile reprint of this pamphlet written in 1647 by Nathaniel Ward, a Puritan minister who lived in Massachusetts from 1634 - 52. This is from the 4th edition. Bound in 1/4 cream cloth and paper-covered boards with title label on front page. Light soiling. wear to corners. Inside, inscription as follows: N ? Dickinson, Chief Radio Officer, A.P.C 77, F.T 17 Ipswich 25.8.43. There is no indication if this is Ipswich, Massachusetts where Nathaniel Ward served as a minister or Ipswich, UK.
Published by Printed by J.D & R.I. for Stephen Bontell at the figure of the Bible in Pope's Head Alley, London, 1647
Seller: Old Book Shop of Bordentown (ABAA, ILAB), Bordentown, NJ, U.S.A.
Wraps. Condition: Good. 80 pp. string bound in old, possibly contemporary plain wrappers. Restoration circa 1800 (see below) to the upper right corner of the title page affecting some of the title lettering. Laid in is a mss slip from J. Murray (presumably John Murray, the London bookseller and publisher) addressed to one "C. Gore, Esq." which reads, "The only copy of the Cobler I can find in London. I have used the freedom to sow (?) and mend his frontispiece. Collated and complete/ J. Murray/ 12th March 1801". The verso of the slip reads "Mr. Murray/V&H/ 1800/ sale account". In addition to the restoration to the title page there is loss to the top corners of the first two leaves affecting only the imprinted title across the top. Nathaniel Ward (1578-1652) was an English clergyman and social wit who came to America in 1634, settling at Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1641 he authored the Massachhusetts "Body of Liberties", the first code of laws in New England and a cornerstone title of Americana. He wrote "The Simple Cobler" in 1645-46 and sent it to England for publication. It was first published in London in January, 1647 and went to three additional printings the same year (none after). It was not published in America unitl 1718 in Boston and not again until 1843. It is considered the first humor/satire book of wit written in America; it contains caustic comments on women's fashions, gentlemen's fopperies, and social pretensions as well as warnings to religious dissenters. It was, however, a plea for reason in English government, both on the part of the King and his subjects. Importantly, Ward offered a new theory of constitutional government which reflected in large part his experiences in New England.