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DEFOE, Daniel (1661?--1731)
[Moll Flanders. 1761]
The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders. Who was born in Newgate, and during a life of continu'd variety for threescore years, besides her childhood, was twelve years a whore, five times a wife (whereof once to her own brother) twelve years a thief, eight years a transported felon in Virginia, at last grew rich, liv'd honest, and died a penitent. Written from her own memorandums.
London (Place), printed and sold by C. Sympson; and J. Miller,, 1761.
336 p. : wdcut frontis., wdcut illus. ; 17.1 cm. (8º)

Anonymous. By Daniel Defoe. Edition statement from colophon reads 'The Sixth Edition. Written Originally in the Year 1683.'. First published in 1722, Moll Flanders is one of the most enduringly popular novels of the eighteenth century, and over 30 editions appearing by 1800. See P.N. Furbank and W.R. Owens, A critical bibliography of Daniel Defoe (London 1998), pp. 199--201. It contains Defoe's reflections on moral, economic and social questions such as the abuses of the marriage market and the potential of transportation as a new start for convicted felons. Only two copies of this edition have been traced. The woodcut frontispiece portrait of the protagonist, printed on the verso of the half-title, is captioned 'The Famous Moll Flanders.' with the verse 'Read Irish Betty, the German Princess scan, Then match our Molly Flanders if you can: In Wit and Vice she did 'em both excel, And may be justly call'd a Nonpareil.' ESTC n68041.

Copy Notes Bound as part of a uniformly bound 48-volume set of works by or attributed to Defoe which on the evidence of endleaves variously watermarked '1814', '1808', etc. was presumably assembled around 1810--15.

Binding C19th half calf, marbled-paper boards, gilt-tooled spine direct-lettered in gilt 'Defoe's Works' and 'Moll Flanders'. Cased (18.8 cm) to match the set.

Reference Number 789


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