1. FOX, George (1624-1691); STUBS, John (?1618-1674); and FURLEY, Benjamin (1636-1714).
A Battle-Door for Teachers & Professors to Learn Singular & Plural. London: printed for Robert Wilson, 1660. Folio (10 7/8 x 6 3/4 inches; 276 x 174 mm). Letterpress general title, 15 individual 'titles' (one for each of several languages featured) printed in a 'frame' in the shape of a hornbook, two errata slips. Contemporary sheep, covers with double-fillet border in blind. Condition : heavy staining on 8A2r and lighter soiling on several other leaves in last section, title somewhat browned and with small tears to the margins, small old ink stain on M1v and M2r; binding worn, rebacked and restored. Provenance : John Crooks (inscription dated 1698 on the verso of the 7th occurence of a leaf A1, ink corrections); Chas. B. Warner (early inscription); Alan Lubbock (bookplate).
first (and only) edition of a fascinating work that is a tour-de-force of the printer’s art, and rarely found at auction . Only a single copy of this work is listed as having sold in the past thirty years. This grammar explains how some 35 different languages distinguish singular and plural (with special attention to "Thou" and "You"), prepared by three prominent members of the Society of Friends. The different languages necessitated the use of numerous different alphabets resulting in a bibliographically complicated work: not surprisingly, a note to the reader explains that errors in pagination were unavoidable because the work "being not finished at one press". This copy includes the two pasted errata slips that are often lacking. The final section includes "severall bad unsavoury Words gathered forth of certain School-Books, which have been taught Boyes in England, which is a rod and a whip to the School-Masters in England and elsewhere who teach such Books". ESTC R7810; Wing F1751.
est. $3000 – $4000
Unsold