London: printed for H. Lintot, T. Longman, J. and P. Knapton, B. Sprint, D. Midwinter, et. al. 1737. Hardcover. Size: Small 8vo. Bound in full dark brown leather boards with red and gilt title labesls to spines. Gilt volume numbers to volumes 1, 2, and 3. Volume 4 has been expertly restored; the boards are original, and spine is modern with original title label. The front boards of Volumes 3 and 4 are detached but present. Cracking to exterior hinges of volumes several volumes. Leather of spines of volumes 1 - 3 are cracked with minor chipping. Leather boards of all volumes are scuffed and edgeworn with bumped corners. A border is tooled on all boards. Gilt tooling to edges of boards is worn. Bookplate of previous owner to front pastedowns of all volumes, Harold Randolph. Vols. are also signed by previous owner. Laid paper interiors are very clean with bright text and only very occasional spots of foxing. Edges of pages in Volume 4 are somewhat warped. Decorative woodcut headpieces begin all chapters. A nice set despite noted wear. All volumes include an Index. Vol. I, 299 pages; Vol. II, 330 pages.; Vol. III, 312 pages.; Vol. IV, 309 pages. ENG/091404. Very Good. More

London: T. Beckt and P.A. De Hondt, 1768. Hardcover. First Edition. Published posthumously by the author's son. John Macpherson (1710-1765) was a minister for Sleat (Slate) Isle of Skye. His son, also John, became the first baronet from Sleat, and was the Scottish administrator in India, serving as acting Governor-General in 1785-1786. Bound in contemporary brown leather, with rebacked spine. Spine has five raised bands and red title label. Bumping and rubbing but still very good condition. Offsetting on endpapers, some cracking to front hinge but interior pages are clean save for light aging to margins. Three pages with pencil notes in margin. Ownership signature of Finlay Macpherson on free front endpaper. Preface: xxiv pages; 382 pages plus 2 page publisher catalog. ENGHIST/042412. Very Good. More

Shaftsbury and London: by the author / Charles Knight and Co., Longman, Hurst, and Co., et. al. 1823. Hardcover. Fonthill Abbey was an extravagant neo-gothic country home built on William Beckford's Fonthill Gifford estate in Wiltshire between 1796 and 1813. In 1771, the 10 year old Beckford inherited a vast sum of money from his father and once he reached his majority, began to pursue a lavish lifestyle. Following a scandal involving William Courtenay in 1784, Beckford fled into exile in Europe. Upon his return to Britain, Beckford hired the renowned architect James Wyatt, uncle of Jeffry Wyatville to design his new home. The house was arranged in a cruciform pattern with a large octagonal space in the center which supported an enormous cathedral-like tower. Following numerous delays and tower collapses, in 1813, Beckford declared the house complete. In paying for the venture, Beckford squandered vast sums of money and the haste with which the construction was finally completed meant that the building was incredibly unstable. In 1822, the house and estate was sold to the Scottish arms dealer James Farquhar and Beckford settled in Bath where he died in 1844. The central tower collapsed for a third time in 1825 and badly damaged part of the building. Following this, the house was abandoned and eventually demolished. This book, printed shortly after Farquhar's purchase of the estate describes the house as it was before the collapse. It is apparent from the text that the building was an impressive structure and contained several valuable works of art. [Royal Collection Trust]. In an attractive modern binding of three quarter tan leather over marbled paper covered boards with black and gilt title label to spine. Rubbing and a few small chips to leather on spine ends, edges, and corners. Bookplate of Lothar Strauss to front pastedown. Ex-library embossed stamp to title page, partially removed / debossed. Evidence of removed bookplate to rear free endpaper. Includes chapters on the interior of the abbey (with notes on paintings and furniture), exterior, a walk within the barrier, a walk without the barrier, and a ride through the domain; as well as, three appendices covering: historical notices, memoranda on the origin and progress of the abbey, and genealogical tables of William Beckford, Esq. A list of subscribers is also included. Illustrated with 13 plates including color frontis, color half-title page, one additional color plate, folding map of Fonthill, and 10 uncolored plates as well as numerous wood cut vignettes. Creasing to bottom corners of several pages. Occasional small spots of soiling / smudge marks to margins and very light foxing, but clean and bright overall. Folio. 127 pages plus plates. ARCH/010721. Very Good. More