Early British
Motives for the Establishment of the Marine Society. (1757)
By a Merchant.Engraved frontispiece by T. Major after S. Wale. Title printed in red and black.First Edition. Small 4to. [241 x 188 x 8 mm]. [2], 24, [2 ("The Receipts of the Marine Society, from July 1756, to March 1757", with manuscript additions on the verso)]. Bound in contemporary red goatskin by Jonas Hanway's first binder, gilt border of a dog-tooth roll, and a roll of semi-circles and dots, together with repeated fleurons. In the centre a lozenge composed of fleurons, a crown, etc. Spine divided into seven panels, comb-marbled endleaves, g.e. (front joint nearly repaired, lower joint rubbed, recoloured and with a short crack at the foot).London:
ESTC records the British Library copy only. A second edition of the same year is recorded at the British Library, Trinity College Cambridge and Newberry Library only.Jonas Hanway, born in Portsmouth in 1712 where his father was a wealthy victualler for the Navy, is principally remembered as one of the foremost philanthropists of the eighteenth century, founder of the Marine Society dedicated to training poor men and their sons for the Navy, the Magdalen Charity for reformed prostituesa campaigner against boy chimney-sweeps, along with lesser claims to fame such as the unlikely distinction of the being the first gentleman to carry an umbrella in London, through his controversy with Dr. Johnson on the merits of tea, and his enthusiasm for wholemeal bread.To further his philanthropic causes Hanway had, since at least 1759, commissioned special bindings on his own and other publications for presentation. These bindings of considerable charm and originality are the work of two binders, the change coming in 1765. Bindings by Jonas Hanway's first binder are difficult to find, and although the spine is worn the covers of this example are in fine condition. Hobson in Appendix X of his English bindings... of J. R. Abbey only lists ten, Nixon added several more in his Five Centuries of English Bookbinding. Stylistically they resemble the "Harleian" bindings of some thirty years earlier and they have none of the characteristic tools of the later Hanway bindings. We do not know the binder's name but he seems to have ceased to bind for Hanway about 1765, or conceivably he continued to bind for Hanway but with a completely new set of tools.For other bindings by Hanway's first binder see - Hobson -English Bindings... of J. R. Abbey, no.88. Nixon & Foot -the History of Decorated Bookbinding in England, pp.87-88, plate 92.Large bookplate removed from the front pastedown.
Stock Code: EA3423
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