PUBLIC CHARACTERS ...
[British public characters]
Public characters of 1798--9. The third edition. Enlarged and corrected to the 20th of April, 1801. To be continued annually.
London (Place), printed for R. Phillips; and sold by T. Hurst, J. Wallis, and West and Hughes; J. Carpenter and Co.; R.H. Westley; and by all other booksellers,, 1801.
[8], 579, [1] p., [1] fold. frontis. (ports.) ; 21.1 cm. (8º)

First issued as British public characters of 1798, 1798. In all ten volumes of this publication consisting of biographies of famous English and some American men, and a few women, of the day appear to have been issued, ceasing with the volume for 1809--10. The biographies are generally attributed to Alexander Stephens (cf. ODNB); the subjects of the present volume include William Pitt (for whom Soane had done work at Holwood in 1797--99). 'Price Half-a-Guinea in Boards' at foot of title-page. With a final page and a half of advertisements dated for the forthcoming volume for 1801--1802, and the previously published second and third volumes.

Copy Notes Bound as vol. I in a set with the volumes for 1799--1800 (q.v.), 1800--1801 (q.v.), and 1801--1802 (q.v.); the volume for 1802--1803 was evidently bound separately to match, as vol. V (q.v.).

Binding Early C19th tree calf, gilt-tooled spine, black morocco spine-labels.

Reference Number 630

Additional Names Stephens, Alexander (1757--1821); Public characters (London : 1798--1809 : Annual)