[MORGAN, John Minter]

The Reproof of Brutus [a Poem]

London, Printed for Hurst, Chance, and Co.... and Effington Wilson, 1830.

Octavo, xxviii (last errata), 229, [1] (advertisement) pages ('Also by the same author - Second Edition - "The Revolt of the Bees"') plus an engraved frontispiece by H. Richter (with a tissue-guard).

Full morocco lettered and decorated in gilt, in compartments, on the spine, with triple gilt-rules on the sides, double gilt-rules on the edges of the boards, and gilt inner dentelles (with 'Bound by Zaehnsdorf' stamped in gilt at the foot of the front pastedown); top edge gilt, others uncut; leather lightly rubbed at the extremities and slightly scuffed on the rear cover; occasional light scattered foxing; an excellent copy.

Fortunately, the first paragraph of the lengthy preface to this very lengthy poetical work (replete with numerous footnotes) provides the context: 'Intending to compose a few lines to prefix a work* ["Hampden in the Nineteenth Century, or Colloquies on the Errors and Improvements of Society" (footnote)] preparing for publication, I found myself so far led on by the subject, that it proved too long for my original intention. I therefore resolved to extend it, and publish it in a separate form'. The work on Hampden subsequently appeared in 1834. The author, John Minter Morgan (1782-1854), educationist and socialist (or writer and philanthropist, depending where you look), inherited a fortune, and spent much time and money publicising and promoting benevolent schemes, not least, self-supporting villages under the auspices of the Church of England. Provenance: the Earl of Mexborough, with his armorial bookplate ('Be Fast'), pencil signature and date (17 June 1909) on a binder's blank. This is possibly John Horace Savile, 5th Earl of Mexborough (1843-1916), or his half-brother John Henry Savile, 6th Earl of Mexborough (1868-1945).

Item #118553

Price (AUD): $450.00
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