The Widow of the Wood

viii, 208pp, ii. One of two editions printed for C Corbett in 1755. Clearly a popular publication in its time as several settings are known. This copy is complete with a half title page, postscript and addendum giving details of lottery scheme. Squirrel device on title page. Two bird and urn device on p. 206. The ‘widow of the wood’ was Ann Northey Whitby. Her dalliances and serial marriages are chronicled by the theatre manager and Ireland’s poet laureate, Benjamin Victor. Includes letters and legal facts connected with Northey and Sir William Wolseley, although they are not identified in the book. The Staffordshire Wolseleys were so scandalised by the book’s publication that one descendant of Northey’s fourth husband bought up and burned as many copies as he could. Boards rubbed & chipped but solid. Five raised bands to spine. Inscription on endpapers and some old manuscript annotations to first few pages where an old hand has tried to identify the characters depicted. Slightly shaken and some minor page tanning consistent with age of volume. Nice copy of hard to find volume.