The History of the Lives Of the most Noted Highway-Men, Foot-Pads, House-Breakers, Shop-Lifts, and Cheats, …
Alexander SmithLondon: J. Morphew and A. Dodd, 1714.
First Edition.
15cm x 9cm. [2], vi, [16], 288 pages. Quarter leather, papered boards, gilt lettering.
The founding text of English criminal biography anthology, and the prototype for the many popular histories of court reportage that followed throughout the eighteenth century and beyond. Smith assembled accounts of various criminals of both sexes, establishing a format that would be repeatedly expanded and imitated. The present copy is the exceptionally rare first printing, in a single volume, distinguished by its title-page date in Roman numerals, MDCCXIV. A second printing of 1714 appeared with the date in Arabic numerals, while subsequent editions expanded the work into two and eventually three volumes under new titles.
Tail of title page trimmed short, cropping the final line of the imprint, however the top of the type of the M in the date is visible. Spine slightly discoloured, some rubbing to boards. Moderate tanning to interior. Very Good Condition.
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AU$28,000