London. D. Henry and R. Cave at St. John's Gate. 1757.
Volume XXVII. Bound volume in leather binding (spine perished; replaced with fabric, covers badly worn, the front cover and spine separated from the text block.); 8.75 x 5.25 inches; title page and preface; 608 pp including Supplement, followed by unpaginated Index (listing Essays, Poetry, Names, etc. included in the 12 issues). Ex-library with bookplate on inside front cover, perforated stamp on title page and stamped number with withdrawn stamp in lower margin of preface page. Pages 423 thru 436 are loose in binding. Pages 177 thru 180 are MISSING. In sum: a book the binding of which has not aged well; however, the contents are in remarkably clean shape with some offsetting. There are a few plates missing, and the "Map of that part of America, which was the seat of war in the years 1755 and 1756." A chief feature of the volume is the numerous engraved copperplate maps. They are listed, with sheet size, as follows: 1) A Physical Planisphere wherein are represented all the known Lands and Seas wth. the Great Chains of Mountains wch. traverse the Globe from the North Pole. Adapted to Monsr: Buache's Memoire Read at the R. Academy of Sciences (14 x 12.25 inches); very clean; short marginal tears; 2) The Seat of WAR in the Circle of Westphalia (8.25 x 10.5 inches with very light off-set on one fold); 3) "A Draught of the Road and Harbour of Brest with the Adjacent Coast" (8.25 x 18 inches); 3) "Map of the Several Countries thro' which the Russians are to Pass in their March to Prussia" (8.25 x 10.25) Baltic Countries i.e. Pomerania, Prussia, Courland, Livonia etc. 4) Map of the Mouths of the Ganges in the Bay of Bengal shewing the English Settlements lately Destroy'd by the Nabob of that Province (8.25 x 5 inches); 5) A map of the Coast of France from Rochelle & Rochfort with the Island of Ree Oleron & Aix (8.25 x 5.5); 6) Upper Saxony Comprehending that Part of Germany which is the Present Seat of War (8.25 x 11 inches); 7) A New Map of England and Wales by Thos. Jeffreys Geographer to his royal Highness the Prince of Wales (17 x 15 inches; two very short tears to margin, otherwise excellent); A Map of the Island of Corsica (8 x 4 inches, considerable offsetting from facing page). The volume also includes a folding plate of the Temple of the Eight Winds; three plates of shells; one plate of ancient coins; a folding plate of Two Imperfect Roman Alters discovered near Carlisle, and two other plates of arcane interest. Unusual is the page denoting "A Chinese Air," a transcription of what is thought to have been "the earliest Chinese music performance in the West" (See Early Music, September 29, 2010). Overall, a volume of considerable interest in need of rebinding; however, contents in remarkably good condition. Item #50818

Price: $135.00