The Rival Princes: or, A Faithful Narrative of Facts, Relating to Mrs. M.A. Clarke’s Political Acquaintance with Colonel Wardle, Major Dodd, &c. &c. &c. Who Were Concerned in the Charges Against the Duke of York; Together with A variety of Authentic and Important Letters, and Curious and Interesting Anecdotes of Several Persons of Political Notoriety
London: Printed for the Author, 1810. First edition. Engraved portrait. Volume II lacks front free endpaper. Light offsetting at a couple of spots in Volume II from old acidic inserts (I4-5, X6-Y1, Z2-3). Nineteenth-century bookseller’s label on front pastedown of Volume I. Still, a very good, large copy, with half-titles and ads present. Original boards, uncut, rebacked in later tan calf with burgundy and green morocco labels. Two volumes, twelvemo. [12], 216; [4], 307, [1], [4, adsd] pp. Item #13819
Mary Anne Clarke (1776?-1852), whose background remains obscure, was the mistress of Frederick, Duke of York (1763–1827). She was accused by Colonel Gwyllum Lloyd Wardle of soliciting bribes from the military in exchange for preferments and commissions from the Duke. The case became a great Regency scandal and resulted in a flurry of pamphlets. In more recent times, it became the subject of a novel, Mary Anne (1954), written by Mrs. Clarke’s great-granddaughter, Daphne du Maurier. According to the D.N.B., it was ghost-written by P. F. McCallum.
Price: $500.00