Search Results: the ancient and present state of by george eunson

Newcastle upon Tyne: Printed for the Author, 1788 A very good copy of the scarce 1st edition. Written as a protest - the author's preface states 'the design of publishing....is rather to make more clearly known the hardships and unconstitutional government of this Burgh'. Eunson has an interesting history: some accounts state that he was a smuggler who turned 'gamekeeper' being made an Officer of Excise by an influential patron. His zeal made him enemies who then had him arrested and locked up. The book is said to be his revenge and he does not hold back - accusing the nobility of rigging elections in favour of their cronies; and that the legal profession were involved in smuggling. This copy is in a half leather binding with gilt lining and title label to spine and marbled boards. The spine and corners are new with the original marbled paper. It is therefore sound and tight. Paper has some scuffing. There is an ink note at the front endpaper. Contents: blank; title page; dedication; general preface… Read More

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Printed for the Author. 1788. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 12mo, 178 x 107 mms., pp. [5] 6 - 127 [128 blank], recent (or fairly recent) full polished calf, gilt borders on covers with thistle ornament at each corner, spine ornately gilt, red morocco label, all edges gilt; front joint slightly rubbed, but a very good to fine copy. George Eunson seems to have had a colourful career; I quote from Richard Platt's book, Smuggling in the British Isles: A History(2012: "Most of the smuggling on Orkney, though, consisted of illegal malting of Barley and stilling of whiskey, and many of the tales speak of how wiley Orcadians concealed their stills and steeping malt from the prying eye of the gauger. There are exceptions to this rule: the most renowned of Orkney's smugglers was probably George Eunson. He started his adult life as a cooper's apprentice, but soon became restless, and took command of a smuggling ship. He was too greedy, however, and soon the ship's owners… Read More