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ANSTEY, Christopher (1724 -- 1805)
[New Bath guide. 1767]
The new Bath guide: or, memoirs of the B-r-d family. In a series of poetical epistles. The fourth edition.
London (Place), printed for J. Dodsley; and Fletcher & Henderson in Cambridge,, 1767.
181, [3] p., engr. frontis. ; 18.0 cm. (8º)

Anonymous. By Christopher Anstey. First published in Cambridge, 1766. A form of poetical guide book to a popular tourist spot in the eighteenth century, the satirical essays describe the Blunderhead family's visit to Bath, while depicting the manners and customs of the place in a series of humorous letters and poems, most attributed to women visiting the baths. It was a popular work of the period, much imitated and illustrated, running to five editions within a year of first publication and some forty editions in fifty years; sometimes thought to have influenced Humphrey Clinker by Tobias Smollett, who was visiting Bath in 1766--67, it was still popular in 1830 when John Britton brough out an edition with etchings by George Cruikshank (q.v.). The present edition has a frontispiece plate engraved by Charles Grignion after Samuel Wale. With divisional half-title pages (sig. [A1] and F1) and a final blank leaf (sig. M8). Includes the 'Epilogue to the Second Edition', pp. [147]--181. ESTC t88328.

Copy Notes Inscribed in ink on front free-endpaper John Soane. Bound (1) with William Somervile, The chace, 1767 [i.e. 1768] (q.v.).

Binding C18th sprinkled calf, gilt double-ruled borders and spine, black morocco spine-label.

Reference Number 1402

Additional Names Blunderhead (Family)


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