| Description |
The Drapier's Letters Swift's Condemnation of Wood's CoinageTogether with Considerations on the Attempts Made to Pass That Coin. And Reasons for the People of Ireland's Refusing It. To Which Are Added, Poems and Songs Relating to the Same Subject. Printed at Dublin. London: Reprinted and Sold by A. Moor in St. Paul's Church-yard, and the Booksellers of London and Westminster, 1730. Second collected edition. 8vo [20 by 13 cm], original full brown calf, paneled in blind in a crenulated rectangular pattern with floral sprays at corners. (8), 264 pages, engraved headpieces, tailpieces and initials. Binding worn, particularly at spine, where the joints have been glued at some time. Contents are nicely preserved; worth restoring. Good to very good. Goldsmith 6798. Kress 3901. Nelson pages 12 & 13: {blockquote}"Wood's coinage for Ireland never appears to have been popular, and ... he is reported to have said 'that he would cram his brass down their (the Irish) throats in spite of them.' Shortly after this appeared the first of a series of seven letters, the author of which was Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, and since they were signed M.B. Drapier, became known as Drapier's letters... The first letter made its appearance April, 1724, and produced a tremendous sensation... By such means as this was the prospect of a successful future for this coinage done away with..." {/blockquote} The Wood coinage found its way to the American colonies, where small change was desperately needed, and they found a ready circulation. Swift's volume is of considerable importance; this is the earliest collectible edition, with the first being almost unobtainable. Estimate $750. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15395 (realized $780).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11234 |
