Lot 91
Unrecorded issue publ in the infamous Holywell St.

Estimate: $400 - $600

Have one like this?

About this Lot
Description

[William WATTS (active 1830-1846)]. The Great Dragon Cast Out; or, Paradise Lost: being a full, true, and particular account of the great and dreadful bloodless battle, that was fought in the celestial regions, about 6000 years ago. By the author of “The Yahoo”. London: Paterson’s, Holywell Street, Strand, 1842. 12mo (7 1/8 x 4 1/8in; 181 x 105mm). Pp.[i-]iv-xxxiii[-xxxiv; 35-]36 -107[-108]. Various passages highlighted in pencil.  (Overall light toning, old crease to pp.61/62). Original blue moire’d cloth, spine lettered in gilt, cream glazed endpapers (some soiling and covers lightly affected by damp).

An unrecorded version of a rationalist work issuing from Holywell Street. Holywell was renowned at the time for pornography and radical literature. The author, William Watts, was also responsible for ‘The Yahoo’ – a similar work that is advertised for sale at the back of the present work.

This maybe a ‘pirated’ edition based on the earlier version with a title that starts ‘Paradise Lost ; or, The Great Dragon Cast Out’ (London: 1838). The text seems to be identical but is re-arranged, so that the extensive ‘notes’ are given their own sections. A version of this work was subsequently issued in Boston by rationalist publisher, Josiah P. Mendum (1811-1891).


See OCLC 561017453 (the 1838 edition with variant title).


Click here for more information and to bid