Political Essays, with Sketches of Public Characters.

London: for William Hone,, 1819. First edition of Hazlitt's collection of his political writings from the previous two decades. "With his collected Political Essays Hazlitt ended his activities as controversial journalist... Hazlitt's Preface is characteristically fierce, and the whole book has a strong political flavour" (Keynes). "Though a miscellany of previously published occasional journalism, it nevertheless offers a fine introduction to the sharpness of Hazlitt's prose and the spice of his convictions - his faith in Napoleon, his hatred for Pitt, his uneasy admiration of Burke, his dismay at the apostasy of Coleridge and Southey" (ODNB). The copy is in a publisher's remainder binding, from around the late 1820s to 1840 - Keynes notes that the book appears to have sold slowly, was still being advertised as late as the 1840s, and is found in a variety of bindings. The printed paper label advertises the price of 14 s., apparently preceding a cut to 6s. 6d. noted by Keynes. The ownership signature helfpully gives a cut-off date for issue of 1840. Octavo (224 x 137 mm). Early publisher's green cloth with printed paper label, edges trimmed. Ownership signature dated 1840 to front free endpaper, light residue from removed label to front pastedown; from the collection of bibliophile Hans Fellner without being marked as such. Minor chipping around label not affecting lettering, trivial wear at extremities, joints and hinges intact, some very light foxing to contents but crisp and without marking, partly unopened towards rear. An excellent copy. Keynes 49.