Details
[STRAWBERRY HILL PRESS] Copies of Seven Letters from King Edward VI to Barnaby Fitz-Patrick, Strawberry-Hill: printed in the year 1772, 4°, FIRST EDITION, viii + 14pp. on paper with "crown, post horn, G R" watermark (A1 with old repair at outer margin, some spotting, final leaf with closed tear at inner margin, and rather soiled and stained on verso), later 19th-century straight-grained green morocco gilt, sides elaborately tooled in gilt with central panel enclosing Lord Houghton's corn sheaf crest, flat-backed spine with longitudinal lettering (spine rubbed, slight ink stains and scuff marks to covers), g.e., bookplate of Robert, Marquis of Crewe. [Hazen Strawberry Hill Press p. 99]
Provenance
One of a number of copies given by Walpole to Lord Ossory to whom the original letters belonged, (though this copy is not actually inscribed by Walpole). Given by Lord Ossory to Edward Ledwich, 1797, then by Ledwich to Shaw Mason, 1819, and by Shaw Mason through Sheffield Grace to the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, 1823; subsequently in the libraries of Richard Monckton Milnes, first Baron Houghton, and the last Marquis of Crewe. Bound in at end is an engraving of Edward Ledwich (1738-1823), a one page letter from Ledwich to Shaw Mason, dated 1 July 1819, presenting the book to him ("Knowing your fondness for literary curiosities, I send you King Edward VIth's letters to Barnaby Fitz-patrick. They are really admirable for a very young Prince & shew that had God spared his life, he would have been an honour to the English throne"), a 3-page letter to Ledwich from Lord Ossory to Ledwich dated, July 3d 1797, asking him to accept one of the small number of copies printed by his "late excellent friend the Earl of Orford ... at his press at Strawberry Hill ... they are now become scarce & valuable to antiquarians," and a one page manuscript genealogical tree showing the "Descent of her grace Anna Eliza Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos from Barnaby Fitz-Patrick 2d. Baron of Upper Ossory." Bound in at front is a 3-page letter from Shaw Mason to Sheffield Grace, dated 11 July 1823, saying he is bringing "one of the Strawberry Hill publications" with him on his visit to England as an acknowledgment of his "kind favour"; front blank with presentation inscription to the "Duke of Buckingham & Chandos through Sheffield Grace Esq. by Shaw Mason. Round Tower, Dublin Castle, July 1823."