The Secret History of the Court of England, From the Accession of George The Third To the Death of George the Fourth; Including Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of The Princess Charlotte and the Murder of the Duke of Cumberland’s Valet, Sellis

iv, 374pp. Disbound, for binding. First and last few leaves are significantly chipped at edges, and detached from text block. Outer leaves toned and lightly spotted. Backstrip cracked. Signatures loosening, with a couple of detached pages chipped and chapped at edges. A few manuscript marginal annotations in a contemporary hand, relevant to the text (such as naming characters alluded to in the text, or confirming dates of events etc). 12mo. A work first published in 1832, the title page of this reissue states “This is a faithful reprint of a work, which produced an extraordinary sensation on its first appearance fifty-one years ago, and was speedily suppressed. It is the same, too, for which the sum of a Thousand Pounds was offered in New York about nine years ago.” In fact, the work is by Olivia Serres, a British painter and writer, also known as an imposter who claimed the title of Princess Olive of Cumberland. Serres was a friend of Lady Anne Hamilton. In 1832, Hamilton, a lady-in waiting to Queen Caroline, wrote ‘The Authentic Records of the Court of England for the Last Seventy Years’. It contained may accusations of scandal and salaciousness, and her publisher, J Phillips was prosecuted and convicted for its publication. Phillips fled into exile. Serres then produced an expanded version of Hamilton’s text, adding more scandals, accusations of financial malpractice and criminal activity, including murder, which was published in two volumes under the title ‘The Secret History of the Court of England’ and still credited to Lady Anne Hamilton. For her part, Lady Anne disclaimed the work. ‘Secret History’, as ‘The Authentic Record’ before it, was suppress in the UK but widely reprinted in the United States. Offered for rebinding or reference only, given the condition.