Imprimerie

1814 · 355419 — J. Baxter Printer Chichester 1814. Booklet - Unbound Pages. Fair condition. This composite publication is a rare survivor remarkable both for its regional reprinting of a parliamentary act and for its role in the legal disputes surrounding Hardham's estate. Hardham well known in his day as a Fleet Street tobacconist and friend of David Garrick left the interest from his property to support the poor of Chichester. His heirs contested the will arguing that the growing number of poor placed an unsustainable burden on the estate; the Chancery decree printed here records the failure of that challenge. Hardham’s business had flourished through Garrick's patronage at Drury Lane where his snuff was famously recommended from the stage and his shop appears in several contemporary engravings of Fleet Street. For further biographical detail see Warwick William Wroth's entry in DNB vol. 24. A highly unusual and scarce 1814 Chichester printing combining two eighteenth‑century texts: An Authentic Copy of the Last Will and Testament of Mr. J. Hardham Tobacconist and Snuff Merchant of Fleet Street London originally dated 1772 together with the Chancery decree concerning its provisions; and An Act for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor; and for enlightening the Streets Passages and open Places within the City of Chichester… first issued 1753. The two works are here issued as a single folio the Act 18 pp. placed before the Will 13 pp. As a result the Act has borne the brunt of two centuries of handling: the printed first page is markedly discoloured creased and edge-worn; the text shows browning turned corners and scattered contemporary annotations. By contrast the Will protected as the second item remains notably clean and largely unmarked. The final leaf blank save for a contemporary ink note shows the expected wear of a page long exposed and has in turn shielded the contents behind it. The folio has been lightly folded along its height suggesting it once travelled in a pocket or bundle of legal papers. Size: Folio 17 x 28 cms. Category: Antiquarian & Rare; Special Interest. This item may require more postage than the rates shown for delivery outside the UK. If extra postage is required we will contact you before processing your order and you will be given the details and option to decline the extra cost. J. Baxter, Printer, unknown