Notes from Sotheby's : being a compilation of 2,032 notes from Catalogues of book-sales which have taken place in the rooms of Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, between the years 1885-1909 / by Frank Karslake.

  • Karslake, Frank, 1851-1920.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Notes from Sotheby's : being a compilation of 2,032 notes from Catalogues of book-sales which have taken place in the rooms of Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, between the years 1885-1909 / by Frank Karslake. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Warner (William) Albion’s England, 4/o. 1597 (June 3, '1902 ; 1182). * A rare volume of Shakespeariana—contains the foundation story of Shakespeare’s King Lear. Dr. Richard Parmer’s (author of an “ Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare ”) copy, with notes, in his autograph. Dr. Farmer there states that he has heard Warner described as the “ English Homer.'' Warren (Samuel) Ten Thousand a Year, 1st Edn., 3 vol., 1841 (May 6, 1901 ; 90). * This copy has the plate at page 301, vol. II., frequently wanting, Watson (T.) Amintse Gaudia, Ato. Londini, 1592 (Dec. 11. 1903 ; 440). * Christopher Marlow’s long dedication to Sidney’s sister, Pembroke’s mother,” occupies A2 and A3. A very large copy of one of the remarkably rare books written by a man who is signalised by the author of Polimanteia, 1595, as having inspired Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis. Watson is also distinguished as the pioneer of the Italian school of poetry in England. Both Mr, Sidney Lee and Mr. W. C. Hazlitt, in their recent lives of Shakespeare, give interesting accounts of Watson. Watts (Isaac) Catechisms or Instructions in the Principles of the Christian Religion, 1st Edn., 1730 (Mar. 20, 1903 ; 1131). * Lowndes cites no copy as havmg occurred for sale, and the example in the British Museum is the only other one that can be traced. It is probably quite as rare, therefore, as the famous “ Divine Songs,” a copy of which sold in these rooms recently for ;;gl55. The excessive difficulty of obtaining first editions of books of the 18th Century which have enjoyed a world-wide repu- tation is now beginning to be better understood. Watts’ Preface, directed to the Congregation usually assembling in Berry (? Bury) Street, Hertford- shire, explains the object of the work, which is conceived in a sufficiently broad and liberal spirit, and advises teachers of various denominations how they should instruct children in the elementary knowledge of Christianity Divine Songs attempted in easy Language for the Use of Children, “ Out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected Praise,” Matt, xxi., 16,1st Edn., portrait by Vertue insert- ed. M. Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultry^ 1715 (July 28, 1902 ; 24). * Unique, the only copy known of this most interesting and popular little volume. Of the early editions, the second published the following year 1716 {only one solitary copy is known), the earliest in the British Museum is that of ninth edition, 1728, and of this only two or three copies are known. “ No wonder, then, that we class the ‘ Divine Songs for Children ’ among the rarest and most valuable v'^orks to which genius has given existence. Children lisp his verses long before they can read them. We do indeed regard their author as one of the great benefactors of the hiiman kind, and have searched in vain amongst the tomes of poets of far loftier pretensions for so many golden verses as are to be foimd in the ‘ Divine Songs for Children.’ ”