DAY, Thomas (1748-1789). The History of Sandford and Merton, a work intended for the use of children. London: J. Stockdale, 1783-1789. 3 volumes, 12° (170 x 95mm). Engraved frontispiece in vols II-III. (A few corner tips torn away in vol. I, vol. III with large waterstain to frontispiece and offsetting on title, a few stains elsewhere, small hole in bottom margin of initial leaves.) Contemporary red roan and marbled boards (lightly rubbed). Provenance: Philip and Georgiana Gill, Hopton (inscription in each volume) -- [Pickering and Chatto (1988 invoice to Hans Fellner loosely inserted)].
DAY, Thomas (1748-1789). The History of Sandford and Merton, a work intended for the use of children. London: J. Stockdale, 1783-1789. 3 volumes, 12° (170 x 95mm). Engraved frontispiece in vols II-III. (A few corner tips torn away in vol. I, vol. III with large waterstain to frontispiece and offsetting on title, a few stains elsewhere, small hole in bottom margin of initial leaves.) Contemporary red roan and marbled boards (lightly rubbed). Provenance: Philip and Georgiana Gill, Hopton (inscription in each volume) -- [Pickering and Chatto (1988 invoice to Hans Fellner loosely inserted)].

Details
DAY, Thomas (1748-1789). The History of Sandford and Merton, a work intended for the use of children. London: J. Stockdale, 1783-1789. 3 volumes, 12° (170 x 95mm). Engraved frontispiece in vols II-III. (A few corner tips torn away in vol. I, vol. III with large waterstain to frontispiece and offsetting on title, a few stains elsewhere, small hole in bottom margin of initial leaves.) Contemporary red roan and marbled boards (lightly rubbed). Provenance: Philip and Georgiana Gill, Hopton (inscription in each volume) -- [Pickering and Chatto (1988 invoice to Hans Fellner loosely inserted)].

FIRST EDITION. Thomas Day's work founded a new genre of school stories, telling how rebellious Tommy Merton, the spoilt son of a wealthy plantation owner from Jamaica, and his friend Harry Sandford, the poor but worthy son of a local farmer, come to appreciate the Rousseauist teaching of the Revd Mr. Barlow. Despite its longevity as a classic, ESTC records only two holdings of the first edition (Bodleian; University of Victoria). Vol. I was issued without a frontispiece. Vol. II may lack a final advertisement leaf. Block p. 54; Gumuchian 2064.

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