The history of arsaces, prince of betlis

[JOHNSTONE, Charles]

Published by Printed for T. Becket, London, 1774

About this Item

In two volumes. xx, 303, [1]; viii, 278pp. Contemporary speckled calf, contrasting red morocco lettering-pieces, gilt. A trifle rubbed, slight surface loss to boards of Vol. I. Armorial bookplates of George Baillie to both FEPs, inked ownership inscriptions of same to title pages. The first edition of Irish author and journalist Charles Johnstone's (c. 1719-c. 1800) oriental satirical fantasy novel, a thinly-veiled anti-colonial narrative in which the protagonist ventures to Egypt, Baghdad, and Mecca. There are references to the East India Company (in the wake of the Bengal Famine), and allusions to ongoing troubles in proto- Revolutionary America. The book was not received with the same populat acclaim as Johnstone's early narrative-of-an-object novel Chrysal, or, The Adventures of a Guinea (1760-1765); indeed, none of his subsequent works would find a wide audience, resulting in him facing a dotage of penury (in part due to being a victim of an unscrupulous publisher). As a result, Johnstone sailed for India in hopes of prevailing on the generosity of those he had helped into positions of favour during more prosperous times. He found employment by writing for the Bengal newspaper press under the signature of Oneiropolos. He later became proprietor of a journal, which allowed him to amass something of a fortune by the time of his death in Madras around 1800. The bookplates of politician and junior Lord Commissioner of the Treasury George Baillie (1664-1738) present in this copy are dated 1724; chronology makes this obviously impossible. The early owner, who has inscribed the head of each title, must surely have been George Hamilton (1723-1797), second son of Baillie's second daughter, who inherited the estates on the proviso that he adopt the surname Baillie. Curiously scarce outside of North American institutions; ESTC records copies at nine locations in the British Isles (BL, Bristol, Glasgow, Limerick, NLS, NT, Oxford, Private Collections, and St. Andrews). ESTC T117967. Size: 12mo. Seller Inventory # AQ24571

Bibliographic Details

Title: The history of arsaces, prince of betlis

Publisher: Printed for T. Becket, London

Publication Date: 1774

Binding: Soft cover

Edition: First edition.