Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare by Montagu, Mrs. (Elizabeth)

About the Item

Montagu, Mrs. (Elizabeth), 1718-1800 An Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare; An essay on the writings and genius of Shakespeare, compared with the Greek and French dramatic poets. With some remarks upon the misrepresentations of Mons. de Voltaire. London: J. Dodsley, 1769. FIRST EDITION 12mo, 8 1/2 x 5 1/8 in. (215 x 130 mm); [4],288 pp, [2]; printed on cream laid paper with light stains to the endpapers but overall the pages are clean and exceptionally bright. Speckled calf, spine with five raised bands, title in gilt and gilt fillets, edges of boards with delicate gilt decorations, all edges red; binding tight and square, with very minor bumping on corners and tail. Armorial bookplate of T. Gaitsford, S.T.P. on the front pastedown. [Franks 11572] [Allibone p. 1341; Lowndes p. 1587; ESTC T33417] Condition: Near fine A scarce first edition of the famous and controversial book by Elizabeth Montagu glorifying the work of Shakespeare and taking exception with Voltaire's interpretation of his work. This is her first book and in its first SCARCE FIRST EDITION. The book was initially published anonymously (as this copy), but her name appears on the title page of the 1777 and subsequent editions. It is an important period piece and strives to study Shakespeare in the context of the great Classical writers. Montagu includes chapters on: Dramatic Poetry, Historical Drama, Henry the IV both parts, Preternatural Beings, Macbeth, and the Death of Julius Caesar. Elizabeth Montagu (née Robinson; 2 October 1718 – 25 August 1800) was a British social reformer, patron of the arts, literary critic, writer and salonnière, sometimes called "Queen of the Blues" as she was a principal player in organizing the Blue Stockings Society, a loose organization of privileged women with an interest in education who gathered to discuss literature (sometimes inviting educated men to participate) and supporting each other in intellectual endeavours such as reading, art work, and writing. Many of their meetings were held at Mrs. Montagu's London and Bath homes. Mrs. Montagu was well placed in literary circles of the day and was widely respected for her writing and study.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.47 in (21.5 cm)Width: 5.12 in (13 cm)Depth: 0.79 in (2 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1769
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Middletown, NY
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BH4651stDibs: LU8340240576442

More From This Seller

View All
The Birds and Beasts of Shakespeare - an illustrated portfolio
Located in Middletown, NY
Cheloniidae Press - Kinney, Arthur F. (texts); Alan James Robinson (ill.). The Birds and Beasts of Shakespeare. Easthampton, Massachusetts: Chelo...
Category

Late 20th Century American Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Geometrical and Graphical Essays by George Adams (1750-1795)
Located in Middletown, NY
Geometrical and Graphical Essays [and] Plates to the Geometrical and Graphical Essays.; By the late George Adams, Mathematical Instrument Maker to his Majesty, & c. London: W. & S. Jones, 1813. Fourth Edition. Two volumes, 8vo, 9 x 5 3/4 in. (228 x 145 mm). Text volume: pp. frontispiece, xii, 534, [16] ads; Plates vol.: pp. title page and 34 folding plates. Previous owner's name penned on the first free flyleaf. Uniform contemporary paper-covered boards, untrimmed, housed in a felt-lined custom clamshell box, 9 x 5 1/2 in. Occasional browning to the edges of some of the plates in Vol. 2, 1/2 inch tear to fold of Pl. VIII and 1 inch tear to the edge of Pl XIV, none of these minor flaws affecting the images. Frontispiece "The Great Theodolite, by Ramsden, Used by the late Gen.l Roy &c. in the great English Trigonometrical Operations." This is the "Fourth Edition, corrected and enlarged by William Jones, F. Am. P. S. [ESTC T88416, 1791 edition]. The last chapter of these fascinating volumes includes conversion tables to various standard national measure ranging from the Paris foot to the Russian archine, to the Venice braccio, the Egyptian stadium to 'The mathematical foot of China'. GEORGE ADAMS the younger (1750–1795) was an English scientist, optician and scientific writer. In politics Adams was a Tory, and as such was received with favour at court by George III, who made him his official mathematical instrument maker, succeeding his father George Adams in the post. George III was personally interested in instruments and had Adams produce items for him exclusively, many in silver. These instruments now form a collection which is housed in London's Science Museum Royal collection Adams was also known for making globes, and for inventing the lucernal microscope, a type of projection microscope where the image is projected on a screen by a large oil lamp...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

The Poems of William Shakespeare, Essex House Press
Located in Middletown, NY
The Poems of William Shakespeare according to the text of the original copies, including the lyrics, songs, and snatches found in his dramas; according to the text of the original co...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Books

Materials

Paper

DOVES PRESS - Lucrece - Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece - LIMITED EDITION
Located in Middletown, NY
Hammersmith, The Doves Press, 1915. LIMITED EDITION. Small 4to, 9 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches (235 x 166 mm); xii, 76, colophon, errata, xiv pp.; printed in black a...
Category

Early 20th Century English Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, with Preface by Thomas Carlyle
Located in Middletown, NY
The only book published by the Doves Press by an American author. Hammersmith: The Doves Press, 1906. Small 4to, 9 1/4 x 6.5 in (235 x 166 mm). Pp. xiv, 13...
Category

Early 20th Century English Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Nibbles and Me, written and illustrated by ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Located in Middletown, NY
INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COPY with a SIGNED PUBLICITY PHOTO New York: Duell, Sloan, & Pierce, 1946. Elizabeth Taylor. First Edition. Square 8vo, 7.25 x 8 inches (203 x 184 mm), 77 pp....
Category

Mid-20th Century American Books

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

The Writings of Mrs. Humphry Ward - AUTOGRAPH EDITION - 16 Vols. - 1909
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: WARD, Mrs. Humphry [Mary Augusta]. TITLE: The Writings of Mrs. Humphry Ward. PUBLISHER: Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1909. DESCRIPTION: AUTOGRAPH EDITION. 16 vols., ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s North American Books

Materials

Leather

20 Vol. Leatherbound Set- Bell's Edition, Dramatik Writings Of Will. Shakespeare
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Published London, 1788, John Bell. Nicely leather bound in brown with fine tan, brown and gilt spines. Watery green inside the boards. 5 3/4" H x 3 7/8" W x 1" D Condition: the spi...
Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

1908 The Writings of George Eliot
Located in Bath, GB
A beautifully bound twenty-five volume large paper limited edition of the works of George Eliot, in half crushed morocco bindings, and illustrated throughout. This set is number 85 ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Books

Materials

Paper

Essays on the Study of Poetry & a Guide to English Literature by Matthew Arnold
Located in valatie, NY
Essays on the Study of Poetry and a Guide to English Literature By Matthew Arnold. Macmillan Company, 1903. 1st Ed Thus gilt decorated hardcover. "Matth...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Books

Materials

Paper

1938 The Writings of Gilbert White of Selborne
By Gilbert White
Located in Bath, GB
A smart two volume set of this collection of writings from English naturalist Gilbert White, with illustrations throughout. Folding Maps, Illustrated, Original Binding, Publishers' ...
Category

Vintage 1930s British Books

Materials

Paper

1 Volume. Violette M. Montagu, The Celebrated Madame Campan.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Violette M. Montagu, The Celebrated Madame Campan. First Edition. Neatly Rehinged and bound by Bayntun in 3/4 red morocco and linen boards. The covers and raised band spine...
Category

Early 20th Century English Books

Materials

Leather

Recently Viewed

View All