the mellowing of Smollett’s vision was, and is, widely shared” (Kenneth Simpson, in ODNB ). At least four variant textual states are noted, this conforming to Rothschild A2; “the status of these variants have yet to be determined”. Newman identified four editions, with the points here conforming to his first. 3 volumes, duodecimo (166 × 104 mm). Contemporary sheep, spines numbered in gilt. Early ownership signature of Eliza Williams to title pages, effaced notation to front pastedowns. Complete with half-titles and terminal blank in vol. II. Joints and tips neatly restored, slight wear at board extremities, contents clean, minor short closed tears and chips to last few leaves of vol. III. A very good copy. ¶ ESTC T55323; Rothschild 1925. Franklin B. Newman, “A consideration of the bibliographical problems connected with the first edition of Humphry Clinker”, in The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America , 1950, pp. 340–71. £1,250 [154287] 162 SPANISH NAVY. Relacion de los servicios de Don Francisco Ximenez Parrado (“Account of the services of Don Francisco Ximenez Parrado”). Spain: 1779 a valuable insight into the Spanish naval empire in the Caribbean The fascinating official service record of Don Francisco Ximenez Parrado, an officer of the Spanish Navy who served during the War of Jenkin’s Ear (1739–48). This detailed account, signed by Parrado, enumerates his services from 1721 to 1779, listing naval campaigns, many of them in the Americas. This fascinating document offers some welcome insight into a single career during a time of considerable conflict taking place on a worldwide stage. During his career, Parrado participated in a range of operations: coastal patrols, surveys, and some significant naval engagements, particularly against the British. In 1729 Parrado joined the Fuerte , 60, under Don Domingo Justiniani, which sailed from Cadiz on 19 December in company with the two- decker frigate Nuestra Señora del Carmen , 54. En route to Cartagena, the two ships passed Tobago, the coasts of Trinidad, Margarita, Cumana, and Caracas. Once at Cartagena they commenced cruising the coasts of Terra Firme, Spain’s mainland possessions from the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico, in search of illicit traders. In less than a year they had captured some six frigates and seven sloops carrying contraband
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First edition of Smollett’s final novel, esteemed by many as his greatest, an attractive copy in a contemporary trade binding. Humphry Clinker , published three months before the author’s death, takes the form of letters written by five characters, playing on their different interpretations of the same events, and satirizing English and Scottish social life. “The riotously comic linguistic and orthographic solecisms of Win and Tabitha are ironically self-revealing and have a psychosexual dimension that prefigures James Joyce’s Molly Bloom. Since the writers experience the same events but respond differently, the novel is remarkably modern in its interrogation of truth and its celebration of subjectivity and relativity. Hazlitt’s assessment of Humphry Clinker as ‘the most pleasant gossiping novel that ever was written’ warrants expansion: the outstanding feature of Humphry Clinker is the fusion of information and individualized perspective, with the concern of modernists such as Virginia Woolf with the relationship of subject and object here anticipated . . . Humphry Clinker took Smollett’s reputation to new heights, albeit posthumously. Enthusiastically received, it appeared within a year in a German translation and even inspired a sequel, Brambleton Hall: a Novel . For Dickens, who deemed Roderick Random and Peregrine Pickle ‘both extraordinarily good in their way, which is a way without tenderness’, Humphry Clinker was ‘certainly Smollett’s best’. Such a favourable view of
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160 SMITH, Patti. Witt. New York: Gotham Book Mart, 1973 A LOVELY COPY First edition, signed limited issue, number 54 of 100 copies specially bound and signed by the author. An additional 26 lettered copies were produced for the personal use of the author and publisher, as well as a trade issue published in wrappers. Octavo. Original black cloth, photographic onlay by Robert Mapplethorpe on front board, lettered in black. Illustrated title page by Howard Michels. Boards very slightly bowed and a little rubbed, a couple of faint marks to onlay, contents clean; a near-fine copy. £2,750 [154858] 161 SMOLLETT, Tobias. The expedition of Humphry Clinker. London: Printed for W. Johnston, and B. Collins, 1771 [vol. I misdated 1671] “CERTAINLY SMOLLETT’S BEST” – DICKENS
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