The New Newgate Calendar (in 5 vols)

The Newgate Calendar, subtitled “The Malefactors' Bloody Register”, was a popular work of improving literature in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Originally a monthly bulletin of executions, produced by the Keeper of Newgate Prison in London, the Calendar's title was appropriated by other publishers, who put out biographical chapbooks about notorious criminals such as Sawney Bean, Dick Turpin, John Wilkes and Moll Cutpurse.

Collected editions of these stories began to appear in the mid-18th century, and in 1774 a five-volume bound edition became the standard version. While many of its accounts are highly embellished and/or drawn uncritically from other sources, they are lively and full of incident, and often refer to contemporary events and social issues. Along with the Bible and John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, the Calendar was famously in the top three works most likely to be found in the average home.

The entries editorialise strongly against their subjects, Catholicism, The Protectorate and Commonwealth, any political enemies of Britain (such as the French), drunkenness, prostitution ("Women of abandoned character"), gambling, "dissipation" in general and other "vices" generally while eulogising Protestantism, the Church of England, the English monarchy and legal system, the Common Law and Bloody Code, with some rare exceptions. One edition contained an introduction suggesting that swindling be made (another) capital offence.

A new edition was published in 1824 by Andrew Knapp and William Baldwin, two lawyers, and a further edition in 1826, under the title, The New Newgate Calendar.

THE VOLUMES

Full leather, uniform in size, 13cm x 21.7cm, Volume 1is dated 1811 with a different spine to the other 4 volumes which are undated, but are presumed to be the 1824 edition (see description above). Vols. 1 & 2 say in 4 Vols. – but Vols. 4 & 5 say in 5 Vols. There’s a preface to Vol. 5 explaining that the number of new cases has meant an expansion of the series – and that there may be another volume in time. All Volumes have six raised bands with gilt titles to spine.

General condition: Poor to Fair, but mainly because of the condition of the covers. The internal pages are pretty clean. Just very slightly foxed – some spotting and staining throughout, the corners of some pages folded over. See Volume descriptions for details.

VOLUME 1:

1811; LONDON: Published by J. Robins & Co. Albion Press; Printed for Nuttall, Fisher and Dixon, Liverpool. 559 pp. B/w engraving on separate title page and other full page b/w engravings throughout.

Title Page: Criminal Chronology; or, THE NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR; Being Interesting Memoirs of Notorious Characters, Who have been convicted of Outrages on the Laws of England, during the seventeenth century, and brought down to the present time, and chronologically arranged. Comprising traitors, murderers, incendiaries, ravishers, pirates, mutineers, coiners, highwaymen, footpads, housebreakers, rioters, extortioners, sharpers, forgerers, pickpockets, fraudulent bankrupts, money-droppers, impostors, and thieves of every description. And containing a number of interesting cases never before published: with occasional Essays on Crimes and Punishments, Original Anecdotes and observation on particular cases; explanations of the criminal laws, the speeches, confessions, and last exclamations of sufferers. To which is added a correct Account of the various Modes of Punishment of Criminals in different Parts of the World. By Andrew Knapp and William Baldwin, Attornies at Law. In Four Volumes.

Condition: Title (and Vol. number) handwritten on paper and printed numbers on black leather missing. Leather torn and incomplete and peeling away at rear, exposing underlying board. Bookplate for Thomas Lloyd, Esq, Bronwydd. And written in ink on title page: Mr. Lloyd Bronwydd 1809 (A mystery!). Some evidence of insect damage at rear, front endpaper coming loose, and one b/w engraving. Loose.

VOLUME 2:

Undated c.1824; LONDON: printed for J. and J. Cundee, Ivy-Lane and Nuttall, Fisher & Dixon, Liverpool. 610 pp (plus 4 page index). Full page b/w engravings throughout.

Title Page: As for Vol. 1 but without ‘Criminal Chronology’ at start.

Condition: Title (and Vol. number) handwritten on paper and printed numbers on black leather missing. Some of spine missing and peeling away at front. Front cover slightly loose. No front endpaper – inside of front cover exposed.

VOLUME 3:

Undated c.1824: LONDON: Printed for Thomas Kelly, 17 Paternoster-Row by W. Clowes, Northumberland-Court, Strand. 498 pp (plus 3 page index). Full page b/w engravings throughout.

Title Page: As for Vol. 1 but without ‘Criminal Chronology’ at start.

Condition: Title in gold print on red leather on spine, volume number in gold on black leather. Cover coming adrift on spine and peeling away at front and back. Front and back cover both loose. First few pages loose like front cover. One illustration coming loose. Bookplate for Thomas Lloyd, Esq, Bronwydd. Signature in ink of James Lloyd on following page.

VOLUME 4:

Undated c.1824: : LONDON: printed for J. and J. Cundee, Ivy-Lane and Nuttall, Fisher & Dixon, Liverpool. 511pp. Full page b/w engravings throughout.

Title Page: As for Vol. 1 but without ‘Criminal Chronology’ at start.

Condition: Title in gold print on red leather on spine, volume number in gold on black leather. Bookplate for Thomas Lloyd, Esq, Bronwydd.

VOLUME 5:

Undated c.1824: LONDON: printed for J. and J. Cundee, Ivy-Lane and Nuttall, Fisher & Dixon, Liverpool. 552 pp (plus 8 page index). Full page b/w engravings throughout.

Title Page: As for Vol. 1 but without ‘Criminal Chronology’ at start.

Condition: Title in gold print on red leather on spine, volume number in gold on black leather. Front cover very loose: held in place by just 2 stitches. Back cover slightly loose. Page opposite title page torn. Two of the b/w engravings loose. The word ‘finished’ written in pencil on a blank rear page. Bookplate for Thomas Lloyd, Esq, Bronwydd.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 3kg 390 g (approx. 700g per vol)

Please note that this lot will be posted from the UK.