Notes and Queries, Number 28, May 11, 1850 by Various
page 25 of 67 (37%)
page 25 of 67 (37%)
|
production of Thomas Dekker, the dramatist, and one of the rarest of his
numerous works. A copy sold in the _Gordonstown_ sale for seven guineas; and another occurred in Mr. J.H. Bright's collection (No. 1691.); but I have not the sale catalogue at hand to quote the price. Dekker was also the author of a similar work, entitled _The Owle's Almanacke_, 1618; but it is not mentioned in the lists furnished by {455} Lowndes and Dr. Nott. The latter is indeed very inaccurate, omitting many well-known productions of the author, and assigning others to him for which he is not answerable. Whilst upon the subject of Dekker, I cannot resist mentioning a fraud upon his memory which has, I believe, escaped the notice of bibliographers. In 1697 was published a small volume, entitled, _The Young Gallant's Academy, or Directions how he should behave himself in an Ordinary, in a Playhouse, in a Tavern, &c., with the Character of a Town-Huff, by Samuel Vincent_. This is nothing more than a reprint of Dekker's _Gull's Horn-book_, with some slight alterations to adapt it to the times. Nash's _Terrors of the Night, or a Discourse of Apparitions_, was printed by John Danter for William Jones, 1594. It is a very interesting tract, and contains many personal allusions to its unfortunate author. A copy was sold in Heber's sale (Part IV. No. 1592.) for 5l. 18s. A note in the handwriting of that distinguished collector gives us the following information:-- "Only two other copies are known to exist, one in the Ashbridge Library at Cleveland House, the other, not so fine as the present, bought by Malone at Brand's, since James Boswell's, and now (1825) _penes_ me, R.H." All things considered, I think your correspondent "J.E." (p. 400.) _may_ |
|