ID 859501
Lot 139 | A Letter to the People of Scotland, Benjamin Vaughan's copy
Estimate value
$ 1 200 – 1 800
The first edition, uncut and sewn, as issued. Boswell's second Letter to the People of Scotland, the present work, written to oppose a bill in Parliament for reducing the number of the Lords of Session from fifteen to ten, was notable for ''its exuberance of tone and the wealth of personal allusion''—although in later years Boswell felt that it was perhaps too extravagant (Pottle). Ultimately, the bill was dropped. This copy bears radical politician Benjamin Vaughan's ownership signature. Vaughan was a supporter of the French and American Revolutions and unofficially aided in negotiations between Britain and the United States at the drafting of the Treaty of Paris. A friend of Benjamin Franklin's since university, he later edited his works. Rothschild 455.
Octavo (220 x 130mm). Half-title, uncut and sewn (a couple leaves with a little loss at margins, likely just from careless opening). Custom chemise and quarter morocco clamshell box. Provenance: Benjamin Vaughan, 1751-1835, politician (ownership inscription to upper wrapper) – Sotheby's, 12 July 2007, lot 45.
| Place of origin: | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Auction house category: | Printed books |
| Place of origin: | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Auction house category: | Printed books |
| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 20 Rockefeller Plaza 10020 New York USA | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preview |
| ||||||||||||||
| Phone | +1 212 636 2000 | ||||||||||||||
| Fax | +1 212 636 4930 | ||||||||||||||
| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase | ||||||||||||||
| Shipping |
Postal service Courier service pickup by yourself | ||||||||||||||
| Payment methods |
Wire Transfer | ||||||||||||||
| Business hours | Business hours
|




