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illustrs, pp xiv,208, 8vo, original cloth, gilt: binding little dull but
sound and strong, otherwise a good, sound copy.
Proposing a novel system of classification, though really amplifying that
of Howard
(6)
€120-€180 (£96-£144 approx.)
1390
.
WELLS (Herbert G.).
The War of the Worlds.
William
Heinemann,
1898
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, IN BOOK FORM, pages
viii, 303, (16, advertisements dated 1897), 8vo, original cloth:
with some light spotting and fingering, the inside joints statring
and the binding a little dull but sound and strong, otherwise a
good, sound copy in a fitted, fleece-lined, folding cloth library
case.
The great classic of interplanetary invasions - it first appeared serially
in ‘Pearson’s Magazine’. “Begotten by a remark of my brother Frank
… first to last there is nothing in it that is impossible. “ - H. G. Wells.
“The best of all his scientific romances … still the most remarkable
fantasy of imaginary warfare that has so far appeared in the history of
the genre. “ - Clarke, Voices Prophesying War. Possibly the most famous
of all “invasion literature”. In addition to inspiring countless movies,
televion and radio series, comic books and sequels The War of the
Worlds is sadid to have influenced the rocket scientist Robert H.
Goddard in the development of techniques for interplanetary travel.
€250-€350 (£200-£280 approx.)
1391
.
WENDEBORN (Gebhardt Friedrich August.).
A view
of England towards the close of the eighteenth century. In two
volumes.
Dublin: Printed by William Sleater, for P. Wogan, P. Byrne
(and six others),
1791
FIRST IRISH EDITION, pages xii, 316: vi, (2, blank), 347, (1,
blank), with the half-titles,2 vols, large 12mo, contemporary calf,
with red and green labels, gilt: a very good copy
First published in German in 1785-88 and based on more than twenty
years residence in London. “A careful study of mamy subjects including
government, land and sea power, taxation, the poor, the population,
prices, trade, manufactures, smuggling, education. Important. “ -
Williams I. 89.
(2)
€180-€250 (£144-£200 approx.)
1392
.
WENTWORTH (Thomas), Earl of Strafford.
The Earl
of Strafforde’s letters and dispatches, with an essay towards his
life, by Sir George Radcliffe. From the originals in the
possession of his great grandson … Thomas, Earl of Malton,
Knight of the Bath. By William Knowler, LL. D. Rector of
Irthlingborough.
Dublin: Printed by R. Reilly, on Cork-Hill: for
Robert Owen, Bookseller in Skinner-Row,
1740
FIRST IRISH EDITION, pages (10),527, (1, blank), (8.
Indices): (2), (4, list of Irish subscribers), 439, (1, blank),2 vols,
folio, contemporary calf, fully gilt spines, with red and black
labels, gilt: the joints lightly cracked but the binding of both
volumed strong: a very good to nice, unpressed copy with the
contemporary armorial bookplate of John Smyth of Heath
(“Nec timeo, nec sperno”).
The uncommon Dublin printing of a major source for the 1630s.
(2)
€180-€250 (£144-£200 approx.)
1393
.
WESKETT (John).
A complete digest of the theory, laws,
and practice of insurance; compiled from the best authorities in
different languages, which are quoted and referred to
throughout the work; and arranged in alphabetical order... With
a preliminary discourse; wherein are delineated the very great
disorders which prevail in affairs of insurance; their principal
causes explained; and methods proposed for better regulation
and prevention
Dublin: Printed for Elizabeth Lynch, No. 6, Skinner-
Row, and in the Four Courts.
1783
FIRST IRISH EDITION, pages (6), lxxxiv, 612, (4), 8vo,
contemporary calf, gilt ruled spine, with red label, gilt: with a
neat repair to the upper joint, the binding a little worn at corners
but very strong and otherwise a very good with the
contemporary inscription on the front flyleaf “Danl.
Brocklebank / Price 12/6. “
First published London 1781. There was only one Irish edition: ESTC
has C, Dk / NNC only.
€120-€180 (£96-£144 approx.)
1394
.
WEST (John).
The History of Tasmania. By John West,
Minister of St. John Square Chapel, Launceston.
Tasmania:
Henry Dowling, Launceston,
1852
FIRST EDITION, pages (6), viii, 340: (4), vi, (2), 380,2 vols
bound in 1, 8vo, contemporary brown morocco, gilt, gilt
bordered sides, fully gilt and lettered spine, inside gilt borders,
gilt and gauffered edges, by J. Walch & Sons of Hobart, with
their ticket on the front endpaper: light finger marking in places
and the occasional suggestion of foxing, but still a most
attractive copy, inscribed “The Revd Henry Mitchell / from his
old pupil / Angus Gunning / Hobart Town Tasmania [?]Decr /
1862”.
“An interesting and valuable history of the early period in Tasmania.
The work is now scarce. “ - Ferguson 18351. West, a Congregational
Minister, coming to Launceston from England in 1839, was a strong
opponent of transportation, and his history, which remains a notable
achievement, was written at the suggestion of Henry Hopkins, a
wealthy Hobart abolutionist. On his retirement in 1854 he became the
first editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, a post he held till his death
in 1873.
€350-€450 (£280-£360 approx.)
1395
.
[WEST (Wm.)].
Fifty years’ recollections of an old
bookseller; consisting of anecdotes, characteristic sketches, and
original traits and eccentricities of authors, artists, actors, books,
booksellers, and of the periodical press for the last half century,
with appropriate selections. Second edition - first series. To
which is added, some additional sketches of the late Captain
Grose, including his rules for drawing caricatures; and an
unlimited retrospect (with: Three hundred and fifty years
retrospection of an old bookseller; containing an account of the
origin and progress of printing, type founding, and engraving …
Cork: Printed by and for the Author, 67, South Mall, 1835).
London: Printed for the Author,
1837 (-1835)
FIRST UK EDITION, with 11 plates & 7 text ilustrs, pp 78,
(10), 85 - 100; (4), (101) - 200,2 parts, separate titles, in 1 vol,
8vo, original cloth, gilt, old plain rebacking, uncut: very good
copy, with ownership inscription of John Gamble, Camden
Street, dated Sept. 12th, 1838.
West (1770–1854), bookseller and antiquary, native of Surrey. The
death of Samuel Johnson in 1784 inspired him to move to London and
pursue a career in the world of literature and bookselling. In December
that year he travelled to London on foot in the company of his elder
brother, determined to be bound as an apprentice stationer. In the
following January he repeated the journey and found employment with
the bookseller Thomas Evans, to whom West’s brother had been
apprenticed since 1778. Within months he was apprenticed at
Stationers’ Hall to Robert Colley before being turned over to Evans.
West then went into business for himself and in 1800 was joined as
partner by Thomas Hughes. On 3 October 1801 both were declared
bankrupt, but by 1808 West had re-established himself as a bookseller
in Cork, where he published A Picturesque Description of Cork and its
Environs (1808). Although the Gentleman’s Magazine states that West
spent some thirty years residing in Ireland, the dates of his sojourn
remain unknown and, given the known chronology of his career, it
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