Mid-Eighteenth Century American Affairs and other subjects

The Fisheries Revived...for J. Robinson, 1750, folding engraved plate—An Account of the Expedition to Carthagena… M. Cooper, 1743—The Importance and Advantage of Cape Breton…For John and Paul Knapton, 1746, with engraved maps—Pepperrell, William, Sir. An accurate Journal and Account of the Proceedings of the New-England Land-Forces, during the late Expedition against the French Settlements on Cape Breton… A. and S. Brice, 1746 [Sabin 42173, 60841]--Whitefield, George. A brief account of the rise, progress, and present situation, of the orphan-house in Georgia…Edinburgh: T. Lumisden and company, 1748 [THREE COPIES IN THE UK ONLY, ACCORDING TO ESTC]— Little, Otis. The State of Trade in the Northern Colonies considered; with an account…of Nova Scotia… G. Woodfall, 1748, presentation copy from the author [Sabin 41523]; with at least one other copy of the same work—An Impartial View of the Conduct of the M-----ry, In regard to the war in America…printed in the year 1756—The Trial of John Peter Zenger, of New-York, Printer…For J. Almon, 1765—Moore, Francis. A Voyage to Georgia. Begun in the Year 1735…for Jacob Robinson, 1744; and approximately 100 others, including Letters on trade (and the conflicts between English and French colonies in America), State-Anatomies, court-martials, considerations of the interests of Great Britain and Hanover, Observations and Proposals for the Navy, accounts of battles between the British and French fleets off Minorca, Reports of Officers,  pamphlets on national affairs, and some religious works; 4to and 8vo, eighteenth-century quarter calf, marbled boards (spines numbered 85, 86, 89, 90, 91, 115, 123, 132, 135, 136, 137, 166, 170), bindings worn, some staining and browning (13)

The Forbes Baronetcy was created in 1626 for Sir William Forbes (d. circa 1650) by James VI in the Barontage of Nova Scotia. The majority of the works offered here were acquired by the sixth Baronet, also William (1739-1806), who added Pitsligo to his title in 1781. He was an eminent Scottish banker and benefactor, good friend of James Boswell and Samuel Johnson (see lots 45-46), and finally succeeded in recovering the Pitsligo estates forfeited after the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. His son William, the seventh baronet, beat Sir Walter Scott to the hand of the renowned beauty Williamina Belsches Stuart (1776-1810), and it was with their marriage that the family moved to her family seat, Fettercairn House in Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire.

One of the sixth baronet’s acquisitions for his library at Pitsligo were numerous highly important miscellanies and tract volumes, many of which were purchased as a set from Edinburgh bookseller Elphinstone Balfour in October 1786. These were subsequently supplemented by further contemporary tracts and other works from the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century. Most of these miscellanies bear a nineteenth century Forbes family bookplate.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing unless otherwise stated
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."