[Selman, John] | Just desserts for a courtier with sticky fingers

[Selman, John]

The Araignment of John Selman, who was executed neere Charing-Crosse the 7. of January, 1612. for a fellony by him committed in the Kings Chappell at White-Hall upon Christmas day last, in presence of the King and divers of the nobility. London: Printed by W. H[all]. for Thomas Archer, 1612

4to (178 x 127 mm). Woodcut presumably of Selman after the robbery on title-page and repeated on C3v, later facsimile impression of the title, text printed in black letter; title stained and detached, initial and terminal blanks lacking. Nineteenth-century half green roan over marbled boards, smooth spine lettered gilt; spine rubbed.

Selman's offense consisted in stealing the purse of one Leonard Barry. There is a full-length portrait of the culprit on the title, which is repeated on the verso of the penultimate leaf. It represents him just as he had succeeded in obtaining the purse. Includes a lengthy statement by the King’s Solicitor General, i.e., Francis Bacon. Rare, Rare Book Hub records only a copy offered by Maggs in their 1918 catalog and again in 1919. ESTC locates only 4 or 5 copies in the U.K. and U.S.

REFERENCE:

ESTC S117808

PROVENANCE:

? W[illiam]-H[enry] Ireland, the notorious Shakespeare forger (annotation in ink on a binder's blank and on A3) — Faint pencil annotation in another hand in pencil on the same blank: "Sothebys 1865" with price of 5 pounds 1 shilling.