The Passions Personify’d, in Familiar Fables.
London: Printed for J. Whiston and M. Lawrence, [1773]. First edition, a presentation copy, inscribed by the author in ink on preliminary blank: “Henrietta Anne Fortescue / a present from the author.”. Copper-engraved frontispiece and twelve copper-engraved plates. Some wear to boards, corners rubbed. Closed 3” tear to gutter margin of front flyleaf. Very slight scattered foxing, intermittent light toning. Minor offsetting from engravings. Discrete contemporary ink signature of Henrietta Anne Fortescue (“H. Fortescue”) at the top of title-page. A very good copy. Contemporary calf, neatly rebacked, new front endpapers, gilt ruled spine in six compartments with blindstamped leaf pattern repeated in each. Octavo. [2], iv, [2] 104 pp. Item #16464
The Passions Personify’d is thought to be by Herbert Lawrence, possibly the surgeon and author of the novel The Life and Adventures of Common Sense (1769), an early work questioning Shakespeare’s authorship and suggesting Bacon as a possible author. The present work contains twelve fables.
Henrietta Anne Fortescue (née Hoare, 1765-1841) was an English artist who used a variety of mediums, including painting in watercolors and drawing. Some of her works include “Le Chateau de Montmayeur in the Val d’Aosta” (1817) and “Trinity Chain Bridge (at New Haven)” (1823). was the pupil of Francis Nicholson (1753-1844), regarded as the “Father of Watercolor Painting” and very good friends with her family.
Price: $1,250.00