English History

Modern Egypt [1877-1907] – Evelyn Baring – the Earl Cromer – 2 Volumes First Editions 1908

First edition published by Macmillan, London in 1908. Two thick volumes, 595 pages and 600 pages, folding map at rear of Anglo-Soudan, frontispiece portrait of the author. Covers in very good condition, some light foxing at the front (because of the frontispiece tissue guard) and the map otherwise very clean throughout. Very good copies. Total weight 2.5 kgs

Ismail Pasha had borrowed heavily for the Suez Canal. Too much, and the debt was based on the cotton crop. Prices of cotton had been high during the American Civil War, but when this was over the cotton price collapsed. Egypt was effectively bankrupt by 1876. By agreement the French and the British too charge of Egypt’s financial affairs.

Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl Comer was appointed the British Controller General and took the lead hand. After the Ahmed Urabi Revolt the British effectively absorbed Egypt into the Empire and Cromer became Consul General. Lord Dufferin conducted an investigation and prepared and influential report. In May 1882 a skirmish broke out and massacres took place in Alexandria, panic spread through Egypt, Alexandria was bombarded, abandoned and burnt. Baring continues with his history, incorporating the Sudan and the exploits of Gordan. Given his position and access to all documents relating to Egyptian affairs both in Egypt and London no more comprehensive account could have been written.

Cromer in charge Egypt 1877-1907

$90.00

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Honours Conferred by Charles II (A Catalogue of Nobility) – First Edition 1662

Printed by Robert Pawley at the Sign of the Bible in Chancery-Lane near the Temple 1662.

Full and proper title … Catalogue of Nobility – The Names and Titles of all such Dukes, Earls, Viscounts and Barons, Knights of the Garter, Knights of the Bath, and Knights Baronets, made by His Majesty K. Charles II. With the times of their Creations. Also, The Names of His Majesties Privy Council, the Bishops and Piers of the Realm as they are placed in this present Parliament. With the addition of above 40 new Honours.

Small octavo, 68 pages after title and one-page Publishers Catalogue … which include the then useful “A Collection of What is Treason by the Laws of England”.

Rebound at some date in full vellum with gilt titles to front in decorative gilt broader, nice gilt devices and lines to spine, silk ribbon added. A very nice presentation.

After the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, King Charles II quickly enhanced the “system” of privilege … the old names were there … Percy of Northumberland but many new ones were added … with all that in place his back was covered? And more time could be afforded to his greatest joy … to party.

Period record of the Honours of Charles II – 1662

$260.00

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Early 19th Century Pope Joan Card Game Staking Board

A striking example of a Pope Joan Staking Board, likely Georgian.

A red lacquered board probably made in China for the English market. The circular pot to hold counters is surrounded by eight divisions. The borders embellished to describe each of the compartments … the Nine of Diamonds (Which represents “Pope Joan”; The Ace, King, Queen and Jack of Diamonds, and the words Matrimony, Intrigue and Game with floral devices in gilt in-between. Still has the top to the pot (often missing) with more card decorations. Does not have a wooden pedestal foot which would have screwed on below. 24cm in diameter. Likely made from Birch or some other decorative light wood. A really super example.

An 18th Century round game of cards for three to eight players derived French games and related to but less elaborate than Newmarket. It did not appear in Hoyle until 1814 but had been mentioned in early dictionaries. Pope Joan refers to the suspicion that Pope John VIII was actually a woman.

Two Hundred Year Old Staking Board for Pope Joan – a lovely decorative piece

$290.00

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Proceedings and Debates of the House of Commons in 1620 and 1621 – Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt from a Period Manuscript by Sir Edward Nicholas – Two Volumes First Edition 1766

Title continues…. Collected by a Member of that House. And now Published from his Original Manuscript, in the Library of Queen’s College, Oxford.

Published by the Clarendon Press, 1766. Two volumes, octavo, 375 pages and 264 pages after preliminaries and with addendum. Complete, and bound in original mottled calf, spine gilt with raised bands and original red leather title labels. A little age, hinges tender but holding will. A genuine antiquarian look.

Edited by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt a classical scholar who had been educated at Eton and Queen’s College, Oxford. In 1756 he was under-secretary of war, and then in 1762 clerk of the House of Commons. The original manuscript is attributed to Sir Edward Nicholas, Member for Winchelsea in 1620/21.

A scarce and valuable source on the political history of James I. Parliament of the day was a source of funds for James and it did not sit for periods if it incurred his displeasure. The country was in a poor economic state. The period was one when patents were used to create monopolies and hence wealth. Conflict arose were the King who felt that allowing patents was a Royal prerogative and Members sought Parliament to control them for personal gain. There was even an attempt to patent Beggars meaning they would be licenced and have to pay an annual fee to the patent holder!

Serious history plays out … Edward Coke a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I speaks regularly. He had been England’s leading law maker … tried Raleigh and the Gunpowder Plot Accused. Here later in life he continues his hatred of Sir Francis Bacon (now Viscount St Alban). His investigations discover that Bacon had taken bribes and he was soon off to the Tower.

James in order to raise money through dowry was planning to marry Prince Charles off to a Spanish Princess. Coke campaigned against this preferring war with Spain. James had had enough and told Parliament that it was to wrap up before its term was due. Coke continued to argue and shortly after these journals he too finds himself in the Tower.

Floyd made rude remarks about the young Royals and found himself riding backward on a horse holding its tail to three different pillory sites … with a paper in his head defining his crime and then off to a place much worse than the Tower … the Fleet Prison.

Rare details of Parliamentary goings on when it was more interesting than today.

$290.00

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The Private History of the Court of England – An Expose – Sarah Green – 1808

Two volumes, second “corrected” edition published by the Author. Small, 287, 252 pages bound in contemporary half red roan, with really rather striking marbled paper rubbed a little at joints and ends, very clean internally, a very good set of a rare item.

A political satire, secret history and sexual expose exploring the sexual morality of Regency Society through a historical novel based on King Edward IV. Irish born, Sarah Green (1790-1825) wrote this at an early age … people grew up more quickly then. Sadly she died young. Although we can find references to novels she purportedly wrote around the time of her birth so we question the official record.

Rare expose on Regency Society ………. Sure to entertain ..

$140.00

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Original manuscript Accounts Book 1791/92 – Webster’s Ropery Sunderland, County Durham, England

Original folio accounts book for the two-year ending 31st December 1792 most likely of or the predecessor to one of England’s leading maritime rope makers, Webster of Deptford, Sunderland County Durham. Original quarter reverse calf with marbled paper covered boards. 62 pages of fine handwriting … appears all the same hand.

Titled at the head of page the first page “An Inventory of Goods etc at the Ropery belonging Messrs William Marshall and John Webster together with an account of the Debts due to & from them this first Day of January One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety One”

The first record of rope making on Wearside (the river Weir runs through Sunderland) was in 1636. The rope was likely made from Baltic hemp. Before 1800 ropes were hand-made on ropewalks a practice that continued for another 100 years. Ropewalks had to be wide enough for four men to spin abreast of each other and long enough to make a standard 120 fathom marine rope. Up to 20 people may be employed on just one rope.

Webster’s plant at Deptford was the first on Wearside driven by steam. It is believed to be the world’s first factory producing machine-made rope. Robert Fothergill a Sunderland schoolmaster had patented a machine to spin hemp the year after our accounts book (1793). It could be that this careful record was produced as part of an exercise to obtain finance for the mechanisation … although the low wages recorded suggest that that mechanisation may well have been underway. We do know that Fothergill died shortly afterwards and Grimshaw a local clockmaker took up the rights in partnership with our Webster and two others. Although its not clear whether the Webster involved was Rowland a distinguished magistrate or John as noted here.

One of the partners in the business was the distinguished Rowland Burdon who later gave up his Parliamentary position on principle although many though that it was because Webster’s Ropery had gained very lucrative contracts with the Royal Navy and he was avoiding any backlash financially … for sure Webster’s were there at Trafalgar!

The records mention many of the vessels of the day that would have been working out of the North-east along with their captains … e.g. Captain McQuarrie of the Fanny; Johnstone of the Nancy William; Robinson of the Broughton Tower; Cleminson of the Argyll; Kennel of the Endeavour (a new one); Dixon of the Sarah; Holm of the Hollow Oak; Neal of the Betsy.

Neat recording of debts and payments with particulars of sales noted with full description for every transaction with monthly totals compared often against some measure of the physical amount sold (early KPI’s). Stock holdings, wages per wage period all set out very carefully. For an industrial historian there seems sufficient information to paint a pretty full picture of the extent of activities. We have gleamed that the Ropery Buildings are in the books at GBP 220, stockholdings were GBP205 and annual sales GBP484 with total wages of only GBP72. Looks nicely profitable.

Interestingly, the Ropery building still exists and has been restored … it is a magnificent building and has been re-established as Webster’s Ropery … but as a beautiful wedding venue … check it out we have shown an image here.

Accounting Records from 1792 …. unique Maritime interest …

$290.00

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Modern Egypt [1877-1907] – Evelyn Baring – the Earl Cromer – 2 Volumes First Editions 1908

Honours Conferred by Charles II (A Catalogue of Nobility) – First Edition 1662

Early 19th Century Pope Joan Card Game Staking Board

Proceedings and Debates of the House of Commons in 1620 and 1621 – Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt from a Period Manuscript by Sir Edward Nicholas – Two Volumes First Edition 1766

The Private History of the Court of England – An Expose – Sarah Green – 1808

Original manuscript Accounts Book 1791/92 – Webster’s Ropery Sunderland, County Durham, England

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