[Curll]. [Atterbury, Francis and John Clarke.]

Atterburyana. Being Miscellanies, by the late Bishop of Rochester, &c. with I. A Collection of Original Letters, &c. II. The Virgin-Seducer. A True History. III. The Batchelor-Keeper: or, Modern Rake. By Philaretus. [Bound with, as issued:] [Sévigné, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de]. Court Secrets: or, The Lady’s Chronicle Historical and Gallant. From the Year 1671, to 1690. Extracted from the Letters of Madam de Sevigne, which have been suppressed in Paris.

London: [Edmund Curll], 1727. First edition. 12mo, original panelled calf, [10], 153, [2], [1]; [4], 41, [3] pages. Lacks the first leaf of ads. Somewhat dust-soiled and a little grubby; joints cracking but sound, with some rubbing to the edges, corners and a little cracking to the spine; a very good copy. Item #19780

“His Father, the *Guardian* of his *Virtue,* was no sooner laid in his Grave, than out sets my Gentleman for *London,* that imaginary *Paradise,* the *flaming Sword* of his Father’s Resolution had so long kept him out of - - - - - - Having knocked off the Shackles of his former Restraint, he ranges uncontrouled thro’ this vast Wilderness, eagerly devouring the Variety of *forbidden Fruit,* which so *temptingly* courted his depraved *Curiosity:* Qualified by a plentiful Fortune, and spurred by a vitious Inclination, he commences Rake of the first Rank; encouaged therein by the persuasive Example of his libertine Companions.” The fifth volume in a separately-published series of miscellanies from the notorious Grub Street bookseller Curll; the two novels attached to the Atterburyana are from the pen of John Clarke, who was paid a guinea for each work. Curll’s dedication explains why he makes use of Atterbury’s name (though with so little content from the bishop) and also includes a recipe for soup in verse from Pope. Concludes with three pages of advertisements for works sold under the name of Curll’s son Henry, for “Novels, &c. Printed for H. Curll in the Strand.” Straus, The Unspeakable Curll, page 281; McBurney 206. Early ink ownership signature to the front paste-down (perhaps for one John Mouetty, alias Batteny?) and a contemporary ink title note to the paste-down; a few other scattered pen tests and smears. No free endpapers.

Price: $750.00