Sketches and Tales

London: Samson Low, Marston, & Co., 1883. FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. 8vo, pp. [vi], 228 + head- and tail-pieces. Red pebble-grained morocco, four gilt- and blind-framed raised bands, gilt stamped lettering to second spine compartment, single blind and gilt ruling to boards, central gilt-stamped harp, horn and laurel motif to upper board. All edges gilt. Dust-darkened, wear to edges and extremities, small losses to head of spine, front joint rubbed. Author's fond inscription in black pen and an attractive hand to half-title: "To Jacob Bright Esq.r, M.P./ With the sincere good wishes of/ T W[?] Newbigging". Else, clean and bright. An attractive copy of an unusual title, especially with authorial dedication. Jisc LHD lists 6 copies (UoAberdeen, Bishopsgate Library (Howell Collection), BL, UoCambridge, John Rylands & NLS). Thomas Newbigging (1833-1914) was a Scottish historian and engineer, who made his home in Lancashire � Rossendale and Manchester � hence the subject of this collection's first essay, 'Lancashire Factory Doffers'. He was an expert in gas engineering, wrote the The Gas Manager's Handbook (1870; which ran to at least eight editions), as well as serving as President of the Gas Institute in 1885. Three years after the publication of this title, Newbigging stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Party's candidate for Rossenadale. As the title perhaps suggests, this essay collection wanders broadly in terms of subject matter � from the cotton industry to Gull Moss and Thomas Chatterton to Oliver Goldsmith � but mostly with a strong Lancashire flavour. The better known of the pair, Jacob Bright (1821-1899) was a politician, the first Mayor of Rochdale and Liberal MP for Manchester from 1867. When J. S. Mill lost his Commons seat the following year, Bright became leader of the suffragists in parliament and, with Sir Charles Dilke, introduced the first woman's suffrage bill in 1870 (ODNB).