COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. The Watchman . Numbers I-X [All issued]. Bristol: "Published by the Author... And sold by the Booksellers and Newscarriers in Town and Country" (vol. I); "Published by the Author... and by Parsons, Paternoster-Row, London" (vols. II-X), 1 March-13 May 1796. 10 numbers bound in one volume, 8 o (208 x 129 mm). Ornamental tail-pieces. (Some occasional pale spotting.) 19th-century calf, morocco spine labels. Provenance : A. Pearson (contemporary signature on first number ) -- Alan Hancock, bookseller (label on front pastedown) -- purchased from Seven Gables Bookshop, New York, 25 August 1969. FIRST EDITION OF COLERIDGE'S SCARCE POLITICAL JOURNAL. Coleridge began a tour of the north of England in January 1796, hoping to raise funds for a political journal. "He visited Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, and other towns, and came back with a list of nearly a thousand names. A prospectus was issued of the 'Watchman,' price fourpence, which was to appear on 1 March, and on every eighth day (in order to avoid the tax payable on weekly newspapers), and to contain original matter, reviews, and full reports of parliamentary speeches" (DNB). Coleridge boldly placed The Watchman 's intention at the head of each number: "THAT ALL MAY KNOW THE TRUTH; AND THAT THE TRUTH MAY MAKE US FREE!" He writes in number one of his intentions: "I declare my intention of relating facts simply and nakedly, without epithets or comments; and if at any time the opposition and ministerial prints differ from each other in detail of events, faithfully to state such difference. It would be absurd to promise an equal neutrality in the political Essays. My bias, however, is in favor of principles, not men" (p.5). Public reception was not overwhelming, causing Coleridge to later complain that the first number had been outdated and that his use of a censorable line from Isaiah at the head of his "Essay on Fasts" in part two cost him five hundred subscribers: "Wherefore my Bowels shall sound like an Harp." The Watchman was finally cancelled after ten numbers, with Coleridge's simple statement that it did "not pay for expenses." Ashley I, p.196; Tinker 677; Wise Coleridge 7.
COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. The Watchman . Numbers I-X [All issued]. Bristol: "Published by the Author... And sold by the Booksellers and Newscarriers in Town and Country" (vol. I); "Published by the Author... and by Parsons, Paternoster-Row, London" (vols. II-X), 1 March-13 May 1796. 10 numbers bound in one volume, 8 o (208 x 129 mm). Ornamental tail-pieces. (Some occasional pale spotting.) 19th-century calf, morocco spine labels. Provenance : A. Pearson (contemporary signature on first number ) -- Alan Hancock, bookseller (label on front pastedown) -- purchased from Seven Gables Bookshop, New York, 25 August 1969. FIRST EDITION OF COLERIDGE'S SCARCE POLITICAL JOURNAL. Coleridge began a tour of the north of England in January 1796, hoping to raise funds for a political journal. "He visited Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, and other towns, and came back with a list of nearly a thousand names. A prospectus was issued of the 'Watchman,' price fourpence, which was to appear on 1 March, and on every eighth day (in order to avoid the tax payable on weekly newspapers), and to contain original matter, reviews, and full reports of parliamentary speeches" (DNB). Coleridge boldly placed The Watchman 's intention at the head of each number: "THAT ALL MAY KNOW THE TRUTH; AND THAT THE TRUTH MAY MAKE US FREE!" He writes in number one of his intentions: "I declare my intention of relating facts simply and nakedly, without epithets or comments; and if at any time the opposition and ministerial prints differ from each other in detail of events, faithfully to state such difference. It would be absurd to promise an equal neutrality in the political Essays. My bias, however, is in favor of principles, not men" (p.5). Public reception was not overwhelming, causing Coleridge to later complain that the first number had been outdated and that his use of a censorable line from Isaiah at the head of his "Essay on Fasts" in part two cost him five hundred subscribers: "Wherefore my Bowels shall sound like an Harp." The Watchman was finally cancelled after ten numbers, with Coleridge's simple statement that it did "not pay for expenses." Ashley I, p.196; Tinker 677; Wise Coleridge 7.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert![COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. The Watchman . Numbers I-X [All issued]. Bristol...](http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/d30984/d3098434r.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
