A Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England, With Lists of their Works. In Two Volumes. The Second Edition, corrected and enlarged, by Horace Walpole. London: R. and J. Dodsley and J. Graham, 1759
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A rare and desirable book for which sales records are scarce. This example is bound in lovely contemporary bindings, being in remarkable condition. This is Lord Napier's copy. Contemporary reviewers criticised weaknesses in Walpole's scholarship and his Whig bias, but the work was nevertheless much read and discussed. Today it is perhaps all the more enjoyable for his slightly gossipy accounts of the lives and works of both well known and forgotten British authors. The authors are arranged chronologically; in the indexes they are grouped into Noble Authors, Peeresses, Scots Authors, and Irish Peers.
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Provenance:
Bookplate of Lord Francis Napier, the 8th Lord Napier, a prominent British peer and army officer active in the American Revolutionary War.
Napier was born in Ipswich in 1758, the son of William Napier (later 7th Lord Napier) and his wife, Mary, a daughter of Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart. Inheriting his father's title on 2 January 1775, Napier was earlier commissioned into the 31st Foot in 1774 and was promoted to a lieutenant in 1776. After serving with General Burgoyne in Canada, he fought in the American Revolutionary War with the Convention Army under Burgoyne at the time of their defeat and surrender at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. After release from captivity at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he purchased a captain's commission in the 35th Foot in 1779 and transferred to the 4th Foot in 1784, becoming a major soon afterwards.
From 1788 to 1790, Napier was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and laid the foundation stone of the new buildings of the University of Edinburgh in 1789, for which he was awarded a LLD.
In 1796, 1802 and 1807, he was chosen as a Representative peer and was Lord Lieutenant of Selkirkshire from 1797 until his death in 1823. From 1802 until his death, Napier was, with Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville's help, annually nominated as Lord High Commissioner.
Napier died at his home, Dacre Lodge in Enfield, in 1823 and his title passed to his eldest son, William.
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Size: 117 x 183 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[frontis, t.p., iv, i-viii, 1ff, pp.1-247, iii]; [frontis, t.p., pp.1-250, vi]
Contemporary full calf bindings with spines decorated in gilt, both retaining the original tooled red morocco labels but the first volume with the gilt renewed to the label (only). Bindings rubbed with some loss but generally attractive and very good. Joints rubbed, some cracked, with hinges sound. All boards securely attached with bindings secure. Both volumes with a shelf lean in opposite directions. Top page edges uniformly dulled as typical, else very good. Bookplate attached to front pastedown of both volumes of Lord Napier. Frontispieces a little offset to verso pages else very clean throughout with some light foxing affecting a few leaves. Collated as complete through both volumes.
[ESTC T63206; Lowndes 2818].
