The North Briton Revised and Corrected by the Author. Illustrated with Explanatory Notes and A Copious Index of Names and Characters. In Two Volumes [Scarce Dublin Edition Full Leather Binding]

John Wilkes William Bingley

Published by Dublin: Printed for James Williams, 1766

Dublin: Printed for James Williams, 1766, Dublin Early Edition. Contemporary full leather binding with gilt titles to black label, five raised bands, gently worn and rubbed. Two volumes in one, continuous pagination, Vol II pagination starts at 129. Issue No 1 to 45. Lacking the portrait frontispiece called for by the British Library. Vol I [iv], 128pp. Vol II title, 131-269, [4]pp. (Wikipedia) "The North Briton" was a radical newspaper published in 18th-century London. The North Briton also served as the pseudonym of the newspaper's author, used in advertisements, letters to other publications, and handbills. Although written anonymously, "The North Briton" is closely associated with the name of John Wilkes. The newspaper is chiefly famous for issue number 45, the forty or so court cases spawned by that issue, and for the genesis of "45" as a popular slogan of liberty in the latter part of the 18th century. The paper was also known for its virulently anti-Scottish sentiment. Issues number 1 (5 June 1762) to number 44 (2 April 1763) were published on consecutive Saturdays. The newspaper was begun in response to "The Briton", a pro-government paper started by Tobias Smollett. Only eight days after that newspaper began publication, the first issue of "The North Briton" came out. It then came out weekly until the resignation of the Bute government. This volume includes the North Briton issue number 45 (23 April 1763) , in which publisher John Wilkes "criticized a royal speech in which King George III praised the Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years' War. Wilkes was charged with libel (accusing the King of lying), and imprisoned for a short time in the Tower of London. Wilkes challenged the warrant for his arrest and seizure of his paper, eventually winning the case. His courtroom speeches started the "Wilkes and Liberty!" cry, popular slogan for freedom of speech and resistance to power. Later that year, Wilkes reprinted the issue, which was again seized by the government. Before it could be burned, an assembled crowd rescued the text, and the ensuing events caused Wilkes to flee across the English Channel to France, and be eventually imprisoned again. In 1764, the British House of Commons declared Wilkes the author of number 45. Nonetheless, by the time Wilkes was released from prison in 1770, "45" was still a popular icon not only of Wilkes, but of freedom of speech in general". Scarce only 9 recorded on the British Library ESTC website held internationally. Provenance: previous owner s name in ink to the end paper and the name Jon Frankling to the title page. Size: approximately 7 inches tall. Condition Report Externally Spine good condition rubbed and gently worn, gilt titles to a black label. Joints good condition worn and rubbed. Corners fair condition bumped and worn. Boards good condition contemporary full polished calf, marked and worn. Page edges good condition top edge darkened. See above and photos. Internally Hinges good condition sound. Paste down good condition tanned and foxed. End papers - good condition tanned and foxed. Title good condition tanned, previous owner s ink signature. Pages good condition tanned, foxed and ink stained. Binding good condition. See photos. Publisher: see above Publication Date: 1766 Binding: Paperback. Seller Inventory # ABE-1694983792828

Bibliographic Details

Title: The North Briton Revised and Corrected by ...
Publisher: Dublin: Printed for James Williams
Publication Date: 1766
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good