CHAPBOOKS            
A-J   •   K-Z

A Trio of Treats       

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a ship in full sail.

•  Original self wrappers [unbound; removed]. There is a small chip out of the inner edges of the leaves and the top corners of the first two leaves are lightly creased. Very good.  (17404)

Half-a-Dozen Songs & a Nice Cut

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•  Includes“The Land o' the Leal,” “Despairing Mary,” “The Thorn,” “Sleeping Maggie,” “Fair Helen,” and “Hal the Woodman” along with the title piece. The woodcut title-page vignette shows a bird saying “Amen,” with “[No.] 22" printed at the foot of the title.

•  NSTC 2D10766.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages slightly age-toned, with edges untrimmed and lower outer corner of title-page torn away, else clean.  (17478)

  Battle of Bothwell Brigg; An Old Scotch ballad.  Glasgow [Scotland]: Printed for the Booksellers, [18--]. 12mo. 8 pp.
$125.00

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•  Title woodcut vignette of two men fighting with swords. The parish and town of Bothwell, Lanark County, is about seven miles southeast of Glasgow. At Bothwell Bridge over the River Clyde, the Royalists under Monmouth and Claverhouse defeated the Covenanters on June 22, 1679. “[No.] 73" printed at foot of title.

Scarce. RLIN locates only the Minnesota and John G. White copies.  

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17545)

With a REALLY SPIFF SOLDIER on the Front

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a soldier in a plumed helmet seated with his hand resting on his sword. “The Battle of Otterbourne” celebrates the 1388 battle, in which the English, led by Hotspur [Sir Henry Percy] were defeated by the Scots under James Douglas. Douglas was killed and Hotspur captured. Otterburn is in Northumberland in northern England. “No. 75" printed at the foot of the title.

•  There is a light vertical stain down the left edge of the title, else very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17557)

A Lady of five thousand a-year! A Challenge! A Gilded Coach!

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a woman seated beside a building and holding a basket on her lap. "[No.] 26" is printed at the imprint information.

WorldCat locates ten copies worldwide.

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good. (17572)

Bide ye yet.  In winter when the rain rain'd cauld.  Variety is charming.  How stands the glass around.  O Jeanie there's naething to fear ye. Glasgow [Scotland]: Printed for the Booksellers, [18--]. 12mo. 8 pp.
$85.00

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•  Woodcut title decoration and a woodcut headpiece.

•  Original self wrappers [unbound; removed]. There are small pieces out of the lower half of the front edge of the title. Very good.  (17406)

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a young woman holding a rose while a young man with his arm around her shoulder holds her other hand. “[No.] 78" is printed at the foot of the title.

WorldCat locates only eight copies worldwide.

•    Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17407)

Some Songs inDIALECT — Some — Not

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•  Song lyrics, with a woodcut title vignette of a figure seated in a chair with two small children. Macnie was active between 1820 and 1830.

•  NSTC 2B57765. Removed from a nonce volume. The front edges of the title and verso are darkened, else very good. (16759)

Two Stories

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•  In the first piece, “Thrummy Cap” — a fellow wearing a hat with flaps to keep out the cold — boldly confronts a ghost who asks him to right a wrong he has committed and thus lay him to rest. This high-spirited tale is paired with a gruesome encounter between Donald and his dog and an English footpad seeking to rob Donald of the money he is carrying. The woodcut title-page vignette shows a young man in a woodland setting, leaning against a crate with packages and a large jar beside him.

•  NSTC 2T11879.   Removed from a nonce volume. Some signatures unopened. A few leaves darkened; one leaf with corner torn away, not affecting text.  (16825)

Little Boys & Girls, with Birds Puppies Mice etc.

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•  AppealingAMERICAN chapbook, more than usually relentless in its moralizing, illustrated with five full-page wood engravings and a title-page vignette.  The stories here are "Mary and Her Mother," "The Bird's Nest," "Little Arthur," and "The Straw Bonnet."

•  Shoemaker 20049. Not in Rosenbach.   Wrappers lacking. Pages with scattered light spots, more pronounced to first and last pages.  (27835)

Who's Happier?

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•  Dialogue in verse. Imprint derived from colophon.

Not listed in OCLC.

•  Uncut. Folded as issued; never sewn. Soiling around margins. Good ++ copy. (8527)

“The Most Strange & Wonderful Events That
Ever Appeared in History”

•  Early AMERICAN toybook version of the classic tale, illustrated witheleven wood engravings, several showing ships and boats. Here, as always, seeing what gets into (and is omitted from) such an abridgment is both interesting and instructive. Click the images for enlargements.

Defoe's novel not quite filling out the 32 pp. of such a little book as this was to be, a tale of“Virtue Rewarded” (not Pamela's!) is appended; and the title-page verso offers a primer-style presentation of letters, “points,” and figures.

•  Shaw & Shoemaker 31310; Welch 275.79. This ed. not in Rosenbach, Children.   Lacking wrappers and final leaf, with the latter interrupting “Virtue Rewarded” but not the main story. Pages age-toned and spotted, with corners bumped and dog-earred; engravings variously impressed, with some sharp and clear, others less so.  (27837)

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RarePOLITICAL Chapbook

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•  This dialogue, in Scottish dialect, explores the causes of “starvation and destitution that is among us”. The National Debt and the Corn Laws are cited as part of the problem. The People's Charter [drafted by William Lovett in 1838] is seen as part of the solution. Much of the dialogue centers on alcohol: Thomas arguing that spirits ease the plight of the downtrodden and John arguing that the people would be better off with temperance.

•  Original self wrappers. Unbound; removed. Slightly darkened. Very good.  (17412)

For ENGLISH POLITICS,  click here.

Songs for Stirling

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•  Ballads, with a woodcut title vignette of a man holding a jester's rattle.

•  NSTC 2L23278. Removed from a nonce volume. Outer edges of pp. 6 and 7 darkened, otherwise clean. (16758)

Daughter Jean is theInteresting One

•  Fairly uncommon edition of a popular ballad, here with a woodcut title-page vignette of a man about to cut down a tree with an axe. “The Challenge” begins: “You Gallic Gasconaders, / Your boats of war prepare, / And prove yourselves invaders, / Of Britain — if you dare.”

•  NSTC 2G14282.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages slightly age-toned, with some minor offsetting to first and last leaves, else clean. (16823)

A Glasgow Production withDifferent Add-Ons . . .

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•  Very scarce edition. Title woodcut vignette of a man in doublet and hose with a plumed helmet and a sword. The Duke of Gordon's three daughters leave Castle Gordon for Aberdeen. Lady Jean runs off with Captain Ogilvie, who is stripped of his rank as a punishment. After bearing him three children, Lady Jean grows weary of living in poverty and returns to her father's castle. However, all ends well as Ogilvie discovers that all his brother's children have died; he is now “heir of Northumberland” and Lady Jean becomes Countess of Northumberland.

“[No.] 18" printed at foot of title.

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17570)

PLENTY FOR THE PENNY

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a sailing ship at sea. “[No.] 36" printed at foot of title.

•  Not found in RLIN.   Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17413)

  Fifty years shepherd, and fifty a king.  The King and west countryman.  The Bundle of wants. Glasgow [Scotland] : Printed for the Booksellers , [18--]. 12mo. 8 pp.
$125.00

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a man in a broad-brimmed hat reclining on a rock. In the first of these three poems, a Scottish Shepherd compares himself and his sheep to King George of England and his subjects on the occasion of the King's Jubilee. “[No.] 24" printed at foot of title.

RLIN locates only the Minnesota copy.  

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17416)

EXCELLENCE is Good . . .

•  Title woodcut vignette of a man reclining on a rock and holding a bowl of fruit or possibly a bird's nest with eggs in it. “[No.] 25" printed at foot of title. Click the image for an enlargement.

Not found in RLIN.

•  Good. Original self wrappers (disbound; removed).  (17417)

Five “favorites” . . .

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•  Title woodcut vignette of young woman in a bonnet leaning against a gate. “[No.] 43" printed at foot of title.

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17419)

Five DIFFERENT “favorites” . . .

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a sailing ship at sea. “No. 39" printed at the foot of the title.

Not located in RLIN.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). The edges of the title are darkened & the last leaf is partially detached. Good.  (17421)

Five OTHER “favorites” . . .

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a man sharpening a scythe, which is balanced on his shoulder. “[No.] 15" printed at the foot of title.

Not located in RLIN.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). There is a small area of light staining to 2 pages, else very good.  (17420)

  Five Scotch songs.  Somebody. / Lassie wi' the lint-white locks. / There's nae luck about the house. / Hey the bonnie breast knots. / John o' Badenyon. Glasgow [Scotland]: Printed for the Booksellers, [18--]. 12mo. 8 pp.
$75.00

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a seated man in kilt & bonnet, playing the bagpipes. “[No.] 56" printed at the foot of the title.

RLIN locates only the Minnesota copy.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17424)

Unusual Imprint / Quaint Cut

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•  Uncommon place of printing. Title woodcut vignette of a seated woman with a man and a boy, and a domed building in the background.

Not located in RLIN.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).The bottom inch of the leaves is detached & the bottom edges are darkened, else very good.  (17425)

Five DIFFERENT “songs” . . .

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a young woman carrying two pails slung over a hoop encircling her skirt. In the first song three young men carouse and drink all night until they send themselves into an early grave. “[No.] 64 “ printed at the foot of the title.

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).The front margin of the second page is soiled, else very good.  (17426)

Scots Dialect Verse

Forbes, William. 

•  Woodcut title vignette of a woman sitting with a basket on her lap. Includes the comic verse tale “The Dominie Deposed” with the sequel [20-1/2pages], followed by “Maggy Johnston's Elegy” [3 pages]. Click the image for an enlargement.

“[No.] 141" is printed at the foot of the title.

•  The page edges are darkened. Very good. original self wrappers [unbound; removed].  (17568)

I'mLonesome Since I Cross'd the Hills

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•  This uncommon songster includes, in addition to the title-piece, "The woodcut title-page vignette shows a kilt-wearing man standing in front of a gravestone, leaning on a gun, with [no.] "32" at the foot of the title.

Not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Clean and fresh. (16853)

Four DIFFERENT “excellent” ones . . .

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a bull with farm buildings in the background.

•  Original self wrappers [unbound; removed]. The front edges of the 3rd &4th leaves are chipped. Very good.  (17414)

Once again, ALL Different!

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a boy with a dog. No. “31" at foot of title.

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17428)

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•  Uncommon Scots ballads. On cover a woodcut vignette of a young woman carrying a basket and holding a fishing net over her shoulder. “[No.] 62" is printed at the foot of the title.

Not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Pages age-toned, else clean and crisp.  (16776)

One Could Collect CHAPBOOKS
    Featuring GHOSTS . . .

•  Scarce. The title-page bears a woodcut vignette of a girl in a bonnet carrying two pails slung from a hoop round her knees, with "[No.] 10" printed below. In "William and Margaret" [3 pages], Margaret's ghost appears to the young man who betrayed her. He throws himelf on her grave and never speaks again.

•  NSTC 2S31074. Removed from a nonce volume. Clean save for some smudging to outer margin of one page. (16760)

For a dash of the OCCULT,  click here.
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AGreat Series of Song Titles . . .

•  The title-page promises“The Cork Leg and Steam Arm. / The Great Sea Snake. / The Sailor's Consolation. / The Wonderful Nose” — a woodcut vignette shows a young man dancing with one arm raised and “[No.] 28” printed at the foot.

Not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Pages age-toned, otherwise clean.(16763)

Women . . .

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a man in a bonnet, kilt & sporran seated on a stool, playing bagpipes.

•  Original self wrappers [unbound; removed].The pages are darkened & the top two inches of the leaves are detached. The last leaf is closely cropped along the top edge. Good.  (17436)

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  George and Britain save; / To which are added / The Plowman's ditty, / Lay thy loof in mine, lassie, / By Logan streams.  Stirling [Scotland]: Printed by W. Macnie , 1825. 12mo. 8 pp.
[SOLD]

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a sailing ship.

•  The edges of the leaves are darkened, else very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17583)

BALLADS

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•  Two Scots ballads (one happy and one sad), with a title woodcut vignette of a well-dressed lady holding a flower in her lap. “[No.] 74" is printed at the foot of the title.

OCLC locates only three copies worldwide.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). Very good.  (17437)

“Tom” Stories & Three Other Jokes

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•  Stories about that card, Thomas Black of Lothian. The woodcut on the title-page of the chapbook is of three gentlemen rankers around a fire.

•  NSTC 2G16638 & 2B35835. Removed from a bound volume. Good++ condition. (8417)

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Five Songs & a Neat Cut

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•  Title woodcut vignette of the rear view of a heavily laden donkey or mule. “Hark Away” celebrates the delights of deer hunting. “Love in the Horrors” is a comic song about a fellow who takes a little too much brandy in his morning cup of tea.

Not located in RLIN.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). There is a strip out along the bottom of the 2nd & 3rd leaves with no loss of text. The page edges are somewhat darkened. Good.  (17438)

“My daddie looks sulky, my minnie looks sour,
      They frown upon Jamie because he is poor”

•  A woodcut vignette on the title-page shows a young man with one arm raised, above “[No.] 37" printed at the foot of the title.

•  NSTC 2B38504.   Removed from a nonce volume. A few traces of very faint spots of foxing, else clean and fresh. (16824)

SEVEN Songs Here

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•  Title woodcut vignette of two handsome cocks facing off with a farmhouse and a rolling landscape in the background.

RLIN locates only the John G. White copy.  

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). The title page is closely cropped along the top edge, else very good.  (17442)

The Highland Piper's Advice to Drinkers
Pr. in Airdrie & with anUnusual Style of Vignette

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•  Decorative woodcut title vignette of two figures in patterned clothing standing between two trees. Much of the typeface is a bit light but very legible. An additional song, “March to the Battle field” is printed on page 7.

The 1820 date is indicated by the Huntington Library. The Airdrie printer/booksellers Neil remark that they sell “a variety of  song Toy and School Books. Cards &c.”

•  Weiss, Chapbooks, 277.   Original self wrappers; removed. Edges slightly darkened. Very good.  (17561)

A SensationalLURID Story

[Hogg, James]. 

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•  There is a woodcut border on the title page & a title woodcut vignette of a seated man in kilt, plaid and bonnet, playing the bagpipes. There is also a woodcut tail-piece. A pedlar leaves a strange “long pack” at the house of a rich colonel on the banks of North Tyne in Northumberland. One of the servants, terrified to see the pack move, fires on it and finds he has killed a man armed with a cutlass and four pistols, who has been ingeniously folded up into the pack. Fearing a plan to rob the house, the servants summon reinforcements and a fierce gun battle ensues when the dead man's accomplices--a gang of robbers who apparently included some men of good family--attack the house, but are beaten off by the inhabitants.

Attributed to James Hogg [1770-1835] by the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, this tale was first published in 1817. Known as the “Ettrick Shepherd”, Hogg was born in Ettrick Forest and began his life as a shepherd. His literary talents were discovered by Scott, and he was a friend of Byron, Wordsworth and Southey.

Scarce.

“[No.] 24" is printed at the foot of the title.

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17546)

  The Humours of Glasgow fair, and The Comical song of Auld John Paul.  Glasgow [Scotland] : Printed for the Booksellers, [18--] . 12mo. 8 pp.
$85.00

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a man sharpening a scythe. “[No.] 42" printed at the foot of the title.

Not located in RLIN.  

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17560)

EIGHT . . .

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a ship at sea.

•  Original self wrappers [unbound; removed]. There is a large area of light dampstaining to the first leaf. The top edge of the title is closely cropped, affecting three words of the title of the first song. The top edge of the last leaf is also closely cropped, cutting off part of the page number “7". Good.  (17446)

SO SAD! 

•  Nancy, the heiress of a rich Yarmouth merchant, is forbidden by her father to marry the sailor Jemmy. Sailing to Barbados, Jemmy is wooed by a wealthy "Barbadoes Lady," but he remains true to his love. On the return journey to England, Nancy's father has him murdered. He appears to Nancy as a ghost to claim her and she keeps her vows to him by drowning herself in the sea. This uncommon Scottish edition bears a woodcut title vignette of a young man dancing with one arm raised, with "[N o.] 3" printed at foot of title.

This edition not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Page edges slightly darkened, otherwise clean. (16757)

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O! “The Beggar Was aCunnin Loon”

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•  The woodcut title-page vignette shows a running dog and a house.

•  NSTC 2B15226.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages darkened and stained; title-page with small hole in bottom margin, not affecting text. (16845)

The Beggar in Different “Company”

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•  Three ballads about men courting women: two Scots and one English. The woodcut title-page vignette shows a street performer playing a tabor pipe and drum, with “[No.] 61" printed at the foot of the title.

•  NSTC 2B15227.   Removed from a nonce volume. Clean and crisp.  (17480)

“Hail us the Jovial Sons of Jove”

•  The list of songs is“Hark, the Hollow Woods Resounding. Highland Minstrel Boy. Tell Me Where the Maid Is Found. Forget Me Not. Ah! Men, What Silly Things You Are. Farewell, My Donkey Neddy. Life Is Darken'd O'er with Woe. Let's Drink, My Friends. Dash Along to the Mellow-Toned Horn.”

A woodcut title-page vignette shows a sailing ship at sea, with “[No.] 57" printed at the foot of the title.

Not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Fresh and clean save for small spot of light staining to upper inner corner of last page. (16841)

TO Part II . . .

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