Featured is a miniature (3" x 5") leatherbound book "vanity" published in 1787 ... The tops of the pages throughout the book carry the title:  The Sentiments of Experience.  The writer identifies himself (under the Memoirs of an Editor) as being "most known to the public by the appellation 'Bob Short'; in which character he has written several letters and essays in the Gazetteer, Public Ledger, and Lady's Magazine ... " 

The Gazetteer (1735-1797) was "THE" daily newspaper.  The Public Ledger, established in London in 1760, was one of the world's longest running magazines, only ceasing publication in 2017!  It not only contained commodity prices, it contained a variety of political, commercial, and society news and commentary.  The Lady's Magazine (1770-1819) was considered as the first modern woman's magazine with a focus on fashion, culture, and literature.  Thus, the periodicals mentioned were all significant 18th Century British publications and Bob Short was and remains a man who could provide insight into that time and place with his "little time machine" of a book!    

The book is three-quarter bound in leather w/ marbled paper boards.  Bands on spine decorated with gold.  There is tiny incised pattern along the edges of spine and corners.  Very little wear overall.  See Condition Description.

The only reference extant to the little volume is by London's Wellcome Collection Library in its online database whereby it is referenced as:  "The sentiments of experience or The art of saying much in a few words, on the most interesting subjects,with poems moral and entertaining, selected by Bob Short, with memoirs of the editor."  It is stated as being "Printed for Scatchard & Whitalcer, Ave-maria Lane, 1787." 108 pages.  That reference has been incorporated into Stanford's Library database.

In the book at hand, and following the "Memoirs of the Editor" and "Preface" sections, one finds the "Contents" which are stated as including:

On Religion, Men, and Manners
On Covetousness and Prodigality
On Friendship
On Secrecy and Loquaciousness
Miscellaneous Proverbs, Maxims, and Remarks
On Christianity
The Man of Pleasure
True Pleasure
The Woman of Pleasure
On Ingratitude
On Pride
On Solitude

Pages 64-96 are devoted to "Poetry" (which which entries are darned interesting and thoughtful).  The "Contents" end with an "Addenda" of miscellany, including An Epitaph. 

I particularly enjoyed "Lines Affixed to an Air-Balloon" and "The Origins of Man's Apparel".

Just a peek into the mind and mores of an 18th-century man and how he viewed the world.  Actually kind of voyeuristic - in a neat way.

Domestic Shipping by USPS Priority Mail - Small Flat Rate Box - to include tracking and insurance.  Check out our other offerings.  Happy to combine shipping where able.

 

We do have tens of thousands of postcards from the Curt Teich Archives and will be listing them as well as tens of thousands of others ... all types and locales.  Many are categorized. If you're looking for a certain topic, let us know.   

 

Selling on eBay as early as 1997.  "The Mermaid" is also still a bonded auctioneer and real estate broker who spent the past "many" decades' specializing in books, ephemera, estates, and real estate.  Just shy of two million books sold to date.  Books and paper aside, if it is "Stuff", she has sold it!  She has now returned to eBay.  Health issues have brought us back.  We are even selling our own collections!  And ... we are picky.  If we wouldn't add it to our own collections, we won't sell it.  Hope you find something that you want, need, and, most important of all, will enjoy!  We look forward to transacting with you and making new eBay friends and customers.  Thanking you for your patronage in advance ... ! 

 

As to our "standard operating procedures":  Our normal shipping & handling time is three (3) days.  We ship weekdays with the exception of US federal holidays.  We will ship with either free shipping or calculated shipping ... it depends on the given scenario.  Often, calculated shipping will include insurance - again, depending on the item.  Payment is expected at time of purchase or close of auction, whichever is applicable.  This also applies to "best offer accepted" transactions.  Non-paying purchasers or bidders will be blocked from future transactions.  The same goes for winning bidders seeking to have sales cancelled.  That said, prior to the end of any auctions, bids can be cancelled through the HELP section of eBay.  If respective bidders are found to be cancelling bids in an excessive manner, however, they will be blocked from future transactions.  Shill bidding is not tolerated and will be reported.     

 

 "The Mermaid" is happy to ship globally.** (See below.)  For such transactions, "calculated" shipping fees apply.  Insurance will be required if not already included in applicable postal fee. 

**Unfortunately, there are a few destinations to which we cannot and will not ship.  That circumstance involves a fluid dynamic the specifics of which may not be clear until point of sale.  If such is the case, we will allow the transaction to be cancelled at our discretion and without any negative reporting made to eBay.  

 

WE ARE GLAD TO BE BACK!