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FIRST EDITION. 12mo, 170 x 116 mms.,pp. [xiv], xii, vi, 167 [168 Errata], engraved frontispiece, skilfully rebacked, with sympathetic matching calf, gilt title on spine, a very good copy. . This copy has an interesting provenance, with the signature and bookplate of Thomas Western of Rivenhall, and small book label of the Felix Hall library. Western [1693-1733] was a rich landowner and minor politician, MP for Sudbery for a time. In 1823 Chalmers published 'The British Essayists, and in volume 5, a prefatory essay to Addison- Steel's Spectator he writes ' That many persons wrote single papers or letters to the Spectator , whose names are now irrecoverable, may be easily supposed. Mr Cole, in his MSS in the British Museum, mentions a Mr Western, father of Thomas Weston of Rivenhall in Essex [, as the author of a few numbers.' Later scholarship than Chalmers may elucidate this point, the suggestion being that the original owner of this copy was an anonymous contributor to Steele famous journal and, by, implication, would have known Steele personally. The later book label in this copy of Felix Hall relates to the family's later library there. As ESTC notes, "Pp. 79-80 (F8) were intended to be cancelled; the text of these pages is the same as pp. 81-82." As often this copy includes the cancel leaf F8 [p 79-80], as well as G1. Seller Inventory # 10464
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