A PHILOSOPHICAL SURVEY OF THE SOUTH OF IRELAND, IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO JOHN WATKINSON, M.D.
London, England: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell in the Strand, 1777. First London Edition. Leather-bound. Octavo, 8 1/2" x 5 3/4." pp. xvi, 476 + 6 plates. Contemporary tree calf. Neatly rebacked. Red morocco spine label, ruled and lettering in gilt.
Armorial bookplate of Robert Hunter Esquire of Thurston to front pastedown (with slight offset to leaf following). Some light foxing to free endpapers, title-page, and final plate. Mispaginated in that two leaves (9/10; 13/14) repeated between pp. 470 and 471. Else contiguous. Pages clean throughout. Plates include: Ruins of Kilmallock, Round Tower at Kildare, Abbey of St. John in Kilkenny, Rock of Cashel, A Tumulus near Tipperary, an untitled plate showing relics. (ESTC T84447 describes a later edition). NOT PHILOSOPHY. Very Good. Item #85361
Thomas Campbell (1733-1795), Irish clergyman and traveler, authored A Philosophical Survey to educate Englishmen about the social life, local traditions, ancient origins, and general history of Southern Ireland. Campbell graduated from Trinity College in 1761 and spent some time in London thereafter. While in London, Campbell grew disappointed that so many Englishmen knew so little about Ireland. Campbell had a political purpose for writing this book: by furthering knowledge about Ireland; he hoped to remedy a series of unfavorable policies towards his homeland. (ODNB).
Price: $750.00