Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #132 begins on 09 Jul 2026

Baker (Thomas)

THE HEAD OF NILE: OR THE TURNINGS AND WINDINGS OF THE FACTIOUS SINCE SIXTY, IN A DIALOGUE BETWEEN WHIGG AND BARNABY

Published: Printed, and are to be sold by Walter Davis in Amen-Corner, London, 1681

Reserve: $40

Approximately:

Estimate: $200-300

Bidding opens: 9 Jul 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 16 Jul 16:30 GMT

Ships from: United States

Lot 191 preview

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44 pages, disbound, outer leaves soiled, stained, chipped with some losses and somewhat brittle, toned with some foxing throughout. Fair.

Restoration-era political satire demonstrating the emerging Whig and Tory parties during the Exclusion Crisis. The pamphlet combines a dialogue between 'Whigg' and 'Barnaby', the latter supporting the royalist point of view and the former representing the dissenting point of view (i.e., rabid anti-Catholicism, religious dissent, and parliamentary factionalism) in a decidedly negative light. The title refers to the convoluted, impossible to trace politics of the previous two decades, comparing it with the age-old quixotic search for the source of the River Nile; the authorship of the pamphlet, also shrouded in a veil of secrecy, is attributed to Thomas Baker.

Shipping information: U.S. Domestic shipping for this lot will be $10; combined shipping possible for multiple orders; additional charges for international shipping.

  • Binding Condition: Fair
  • Overall Condition: Fair
  • Size: Small 4to (200 x 155 mm)


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