Descrizione

5 volumes. First Edition of the collected speeches. With the engraved armorial bookplate of William H. Eliot, almost certainly a member of the distinguished Eliot family associated with Harvard and Boston intellectual life, bearing the Eliot elephant crest and the motto Non Nobis Solum, both of which are associated with that family. Volume I with an engraved frontispiece portrait from a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Tall 8vos, in contemporary full calf, the boards with with a rooled border frame in gilt, the spines with elaborate gilt tooled flat bands creating comparments with central gilt devices, two compartments with gilt decorated and lettered black morocco labels, marbled endpapers. xi, 398; v, 407; vii, 420; vii, 480; v, 376, lxiii, (vii) pp. A very handsome set, rare in period calf. The text is solid and very fresh, clean and bright. The bindings are well preserved and attractive with some wear to the calf at the spine tips and some rubbing along the joints.

Edizione: first collected edition of the parliamentary speeches of richard brinsley sheridan, published immediately after his death. an important record of one of the greatest parliamentary orators of the georgian period. in addition to mr. sheridan's speeches the edition also contains memoirs on sheridan, a few poetical pieces, references, and a general index.<br> sheridan was one of the great literary and political figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. while best known today as the author of 'the school for scandal' and 'the rivals' and other plays, in his own lifetime he was nearly as famous as an orator in parliament.<br> sheridan’s speeches were genuinely celebrated in their day. his speeches during the impeachment proceedings against warren hastings were regarded by contemporaries as among the greatest ever delivered in parliament.<br> the william h. eliot on the engraved bookplates is most likely the prominent boston civic figure who lived from 1811 to 1887. he was a relative to both harvard president charles william eliot and american poet t. s. eliot.