1. Addison, Joseph / Steele, Richard.

The Spectator [This is the Rare Dublin Edition with Bookseller-Label of T. Connolly (Dublin)]. [With Frontispiece – Illustrations by Pierre-Alexandre Aveline, Jacques Philippe de Bas and Francis Hayman].

8 Volumes (complete set). Dublin, Printed for W.Wilson, 1778. Small Octavo. Volume I: Frontispiece, VI, 325 pages plus 14 unnumbered pages of an Index (includes the notable essay “Inkle and Yarico” (Spectator 11) / Volume II: Frontispiece, IV, 336 pages plus 6 unnumbered pages of an Index / Volume III: Frontispiece, IV, 314 pages plus 10 unnumbered pages of an Index / Volume IV: Frontispiece, VI, 303 pages plus 9 unnumbered pages of an Index / Volume V: Frontispiece, III, 301 pages plus 11 unnumbered pages of an Index / Volume VI: IV, Frontispiece, 305 pages plus 19 unnumbered pages of an Index / Volume VII: Frontispiece, V, 333 pages plus 9 unnumbered pages of an Index / Volume VIII: Frontispiece, VIII, 300 pages plus 12 unnumbered pages of an Index [includes the Bookseller’s copyright-warning to the Reader that “no other Papers which have appeared under title of Spectator, since the closing of this eighth Volume, were written by any of those Gentlemen who had a hand in this or the former Volumes”. Hardcover / Original 18th century full leather. All Volumes firm and with some stronger rubbing (no broken spines or weak hinges). Binding of all eight Volumes look overall poor, with spinelabels missing or broken. Interior in excellent condition with some occasion faded dampstains but overall no browning and all the frontispieces in place. The Dublin Edition comes rarely to the market !

2. Chalmers, Alexander.

A History of the University of Oxford, including the Lives of the Founders, by Alex Chalmers, with a Series of Illustrated Engravings by J.Storey & J.Greig. / A History of the College Halls. And Public Buildings, attached to the University of Oxford. [With 31 plates / steel engravings (including frontispiece)].

First Edition. Two Volumes (complete set). Oxford, Printed by Collingwood and Co., 1810. Octavo (14.4 cm wide x 21.7 cm high). Pagination: VolumeI: Frontispiece-Engraving of Oxford, engraved title-page, another title-page with a more explicit title, XVI, 260 pages / Volume II continues the pagination: Halftitle, Title, Pages 261 – 486 plus an Index (13 pages). plus 1 page (List of Plates). Original, very decorative, early 19th century full leather with gilt ornament to boards and masterfully rebacked spine with spine-labels. A superior copy of this often deranged and broken publication. A stunning example of british bindery-craftsmanship and with only minor signs of browning and foxing. The best example of this work we have ever seen. Firm, possible to be handled without fear of breaking, the leather smooth. A perfect gift !

3. [Chatham, William Pitt 1st Earl of] Rosebery, Lord.

Chatham: His Early Life and Connections.

London, Arthur L. Humphreys, 1910. 23.8cm x 17.2cm. XII, 526 pages. Original Hardcover. Lower spine rubbed – Otherwise in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear and some clear signs of foxing.

4. Mavor, William.

The British Nepos: Consisting of the Lives of Illustrious Britons Who Have Distinguished Themselves by their Virtues, Talents or remarkable Advancement in Life; with incidental practical reflections.

Twelfth Edition. London, Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1816. Small Octavo. Frontispiece, XI, [1], 458 pages with all 24 portraits of eminent British People of History in place. Hardcover / Original, contemporary full leather with gilt ornament on spine. Binding slightly rubbed but firm and holding. Interior slightly dusty but overall in very good condition. Giftinscription from 1822 in ink verso titlepage.

5. McLaughlin, Terence.

Dirt – A Social History Through the Uses and Abuses of Dirt.

New York, Stein and Day, 1971. Octavo. IX, 182 pages. Original Hardcover with dustjacket. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only.

6. [Oxford University].

Parecbolae Sive Excerpta E Corpore Statutorum Universitatis Oxoniensis. [With an Appendix on the Statutes of the Bodleian Library: “Statuta Bibliotheca Bodleiana [1610]” / Includes also in english at the rear: Oath of Allegiance / Oath of Supremacy / Oath at the Matriculation of a Scholar / Oath at the Matriculation of a Privileged Person]. Accedunt Articuli Religionis XXXIX In Ecclesia Anglicana Recepti: Nec Non Juramenta Fidelitatis et Suprematus. In Usum Juventutis Academicae.

Oxford, E Typographeo Clarendoniano, 1808. Small – Octavo. [13], 267, [1] pages. Hardcover / Original full calf. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate falsely applied upside down to rear pastedown.

7. Shaw, Rev. Stebbing.

The History and Antiquities of Staffordshire. Complete Set of two Volumes (all published/fully restored). With an original Plan of Wolverhampton, A large map of Staffordshire, Engravings of Boscobel House, The Pedigree of Turton, Etchings of Kings Bromley, Pipe Ridware House, Lichfield, Site of Blythbury Priory, Mavesyn Ridware, Cathedral of Lichfield, View of Freeford, etc. etc. Volume I – Containing the Ancient and Modern History of Thirty Parishes in the Hundred of Offlow, arranged Geographically, with an Appendix of the most curious Charters &c. Illustrated with sixty-two copper plates and a copious Index / Volume II – Part1 (all published) – Containing the Prefatory Introduction, commencing with a Series of Original Letters from Plot’s time to the present; General and Natural History &c. Ancient and Modern History of the remaining Parishes in the Hundred of Offlow and the Whole of Seisdon, arranged Geographically with an Appendix of curious Charters and other additions and Corrections &c. Illustrated with fifty copper plates and a copious Index. Compiled from the Manuscripts of Huntbach, Loxdale, Bishop Lyttelton, and other Collections of Dr.Wilkes, the Rev. T.Reilde. Including Erdeswicke’s Survey of the County and the approved parts of Dr. Plot’s Natural History. The whole brought down to the present time. Interspersed with Pedigrees and Anecdotes of Families, Observations on Agriculture, Commerce, Mines and Manufactories and illustrated with a very full and correct new map of the County, “Agri Staffordiensis Icon” and numerous other plates.

London, J.Nichols and Son, 1798-1801. Large-Folio. Volume I: Folded Map of Staffordshire by W.Faden, Portrait of Rev. Shaw (detached), XXIV, (2), 125, XXXVIII, 434, 38 pages / Volume II, Part I: A Plan of Wolverhampton, XXXII, 290, 20 pages. With a double-page plan, a large, folded county map (coloured), 82 engraved plates, numerous vignettes within the text and 3 folded pedigree – tables. Modern Hardcover. Exceptionally restored. This work is difficult to handle if not in a sturdy binding ! Original Edition in professionally rebound halfleather with gilt lettering on spine and extra-strong boards, suited for this heavy set. This masterpiece of underestimated english local history is of great interest because of its fold out maps and numerous large folio etchings.