The General Genteel Preceptor Being a summary introduction to Polite Learning adapted to the Service and Instruction of Youth of Both Sexes, and of Others, who wish to acquire, or to confirm, useful and pleasing Knowledge in the various Branches of Education. The First Series. Containing Elementary Principles of Geography, History and Chronology, Natural History, and Botany &c. Adorned and Illustrated by Many Plates.
by FITZGERALD, Francis
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Holt, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Printed for C. Taylor 1797, 1797. Second edition. Three Volumes. 8vo in 4s (210x125mm). pp. Vol. I. pt. I: xiv, [2], 242, [2]; pt. II: [iv], 208; Vol. II. pt. III. Divisions 1, 2 & 3: [ii], 440; Division 4 [ii], viii, 79. Vol. III. Pt. IV; [iv], 96, Pt VI; 33-224 [1], Pt V; [ii], 1-32 (see below for explanation). Mottled calf, edges decorated in gilt. Spine decorated in gilt with contrasting lettering pieces in red (title in gilt) and green (volume number in gilt on a contrasting red circle). Some shelfwear and rubbing, particularly to the hinges which are cracking in places although sound. Some slight scuffing to the upper and lower covers of volume III. Edges sprinkled green. The contents are in excellent condition (save where noted below) with no significant, marking or foxing. All three volumes are profusely illustrated with charming and fascinating engravings of the subject matter. The plates are fine and the fifteen folding maps in volume I are in excellent condition with many of them outlined in colour. The only major flaw is on page 79 of part IV of Volume II (i.e. the very last page) which has been repaired following a tear to the bottom corner but there is some loss to the text. Ownership inscription of Eleanor Clarke in each volume. It is rare to find The General Preceptor complete with all its parts and plates present and this is a particularly good set although (as explained) there are eccentricities in the pagination. Volume I contains Part I (Geography) and Part II (History and Chronology). Volume II contains Part III (Natural History) which is split into four divisions, each with its own title page: Beasts, Birds, Fish and Insects. The first three divisions are paginated continuously from 1-440. The title page for Insects is then followed by the index for the preceding three sections, and then the text for "Insects" is paginated 1-79 but with its index inserted at pp 75/76. Despite this confusion, the signatures and pagination are complete. Volume III has even more eccentricities but, again, is complete. It contains Part IV (Botany), Part V (The Arts of Drawing and Architecture) and Part VI which is divided into two parts - the Elements and the Senses. There is a section on Astronomy (confusingly also referred to as Part VI but presumably this should read "VII" as the pagination and the signatures follow on from Part VI). Part V which is paginated 1-33 has been incorrectly bound after Part VI and so comes right at the end. In a way, this is understandable as Drawing and Architecture seem to sit apart from the other subjects dealt with in this volume. However, the binder has clearly gone against his instructions. Although this is a wonderfully informative set with the most extraordinarily ambitious range of knowledge on display, in places it does appear that the binder has been in a rush. But, as this is an encyclopaedia it does not, perhaps, matter (and it is rather charming for it adds to the eccentricity of the whole project) because everything that should be here is here. A hugely entertaining and educational work, impossible to summarise, delightful to dip into. If you want to know what genteel young people were expected to know in the late 18th century (and it was a lot), you will find it here.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Voewood Rare Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 2923
- Title
- The General Genteel Preceptor Being a summary introduction to Polite Learning adapted to the Service and Instruction of Youth of Both Sexes, and of Others, who wish to acquire, or to confirm, useful and pleasing Knowledge in the various Branches of Education. The First Series. Containing Elementary Principles of Geography, History and Chronology, Natural History, and Botany &c. Adorned and Illustrated by Many Plates.
- Author
- FITZGERALD, Francis
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- London: Printed for C. Taylor 1797
- Date Published
- 1797
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Note
- May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.
Terms of Sale
Voewood Rare Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Voewood Rare Books
Biblio member since 2018
Holt, Norfolk
About Voewood Rare Books
Simon Finch has been a Rare Book Dealer since 1980. He has had shops in Notting Hill Gate, Mayfair and Holt, Norfolk. His firm has handled a wide variety of material from the First Folio of Shakespeare to the wilder shores of the counterculture and everything in between. In 1998, Simon bought Voewood, one of the finest Arts and Crafts and houses and brought it back to life with an eight-year programme of renovation and restoration. Voewood Rare Books, which operates from Voewood, is the continuation for Simon of a long career in the book trade. It also represents an important link with the House. Voewood is always beautiful, surprising, mysterious and perhaps a little disorientating and we aim to bring something of this spirit to the bookshop. Whilst our focus in on the visual arts, literature and the counter-culture, we deal also in a broad range of antiquarian and modern rare books across all subject areas. Our collection can be found here at Biblio and on our website. We are open by appointment and can always be contacted by email.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Shelfwear
- Minor wear resulting from a book being place on, and taken from a bookshelf, especially along the bottom edge.
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...