Category: History, Politics & Biography

Books from Giffard Library that cover political and historical topics, including works of biography and/or memoir by individuals. Also includes travel narratives and related works.

The Tablet of Memory

shewing every memorable event in history, from the earliest period to the year 1800. classed under distinct heads, with their dates. comprehending an epitome of english history, with an exact chronology of painters, eminent men, &c. to which are annexed, several useful lists. 

Philip Luckombe

The tenth edition, considerably enlarged with several hundred additional articles. 

London: Printed by J. Crowder, Warwick-Square, for G.G. and J. Robinson, Paternoster-Row, 1800.

From the Collection of Andrew  Honey.

Binding: Blue paper-covered boards with buff/cream paper spine. Notes in pencil to both sides of front flyleaf listing some of the contents. “T.a.” in ink at head of recto of front flyleaf. “Maria Eleanora Giffard | Nerquis 1807” in ink at head of title-page. “Maria Eleanora Giffard (1807) | Nerquis” in ink at head of p.1. “Tablet | of | Memory” in ink at head of spine.  

Table of contents and first page of text, with ownership inscription.
First page of text of “The Tablet of Memory” (1800), showing ownership inscription at head of page.
Courtesy of Andrew Honey.
Title-page of book with ownership inscription
Ownership inscription on title-page of “The Tablet of Memory”(1800).
Courtesy of Andrew Honey.
Front free end-paper of book with penciled notes.
Front free end-paper (flyleaf) in Philip Luckombe’s “The Tablet of Memory” (1800), showing penciled index notes and ink letters, T.a., at top edge.
Courtesy of Andrew Honey.
Spine and back cover of book showing binding and handwritten title at head of spine.
Spine and back cover of “The Tablet of Memory” (1800), showing binding and ink title on spine.
Courtesy of Andrew Honey.

A complete account of the settlement of Port Jackson, in New South Wales

Including an accurate description of the situation of the colony; of the natives; and of its natural productions.

Watkins Tench

London: Sold by G. Nicol, Pall-Mall; and J. Sewell, Cornhill, 1793.

Silent World Foundation Library

Subscriber’s copy, inscribed on title-page: “Eliza Giffard Nerquis Flintshire 1807”, and lettered in another hand on the cover “Mrs. Giffard”. Note: subscriber’s list [p.xi] lists both ‘Mrs. Gifford, Nerquis’ and ‘Miss Gifford’. 

 

The history of England

David Hume.

In six volumes

London: Printed for A. Millar, 1754-62. 

University of Texas, Austin. Harry Ransom Center. 

HRC cop. 1 [ATR] [STR]: v. 1-2 inscribed: Eliza Giffard, 1807; armorial bookplate of Eliza Giffard [?]; was Aitken: Am/H882/762h/v. 1-2/Stark; v. [3-4] armorial bookplates of Phil: Baker and John George Mogg; v. [4] ms. note relating to Princess Elizabeth’s imprisonment in the Tower (tipped in); was Aitken: Am/H882/759h/v. 1-2/Stark; v. [5-6] inscribed: Eliza Giffard, 1807; armorial bookplate of Eliza Giffard [?]; was Aitken: Am/H882/754h/v. 1-2/Stark.  Cop. 2 imperfect: v. 3 wanting; v. 2: illegible inscription; v. [4]: inscribed: Eliza Giffard; v. 5-6: armorial bookplate of Biddulph, Ledbury; inscribed: N. [?] Biddulph; v. [4] inscribed: Eliza Giffard; armorial bookplate of Eliza Giffard [?]

Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Beering’s Strait…

to cooperate with the Polar expeditions… in the years 1825, 26, 27, 28.

Frederick William Beechey

First edition. 

London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831.

Horden House Rare Books, Sydney.  

Eliza Giffard. Two volumes, quarto, with two large folding engraved maps, one double page map, and 23 plates. Bound in original plain boards, rebacked. Covers of both volumes inscribed ‘Captain Beechey’s Voyage’, and volume number, in Giffard’s hand. 

Personal Narrative of Travels in Babylonia, Assyria, Media, and Scythia

IN THE YEAR 1824. 

Major, the Hon. George Keppel, F.S.A.

Third edition. 

London: Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street, 1827.

Private collection.

Volume 1 only. Inscribed on front free endpaper: “Eliza Giffard Nerquis”. Bound in polished calf with double gilt fillets on front and rear covers, and black double fillets with rosette motif at corners inside gilt. Spine with four raised bacnds, gilt decorations. Red morocco labels “Keppel’s Narrative” and “Vol. I” below first and third bands respectively. Red marbled endpapers. No evidence of mss. inscription on spine. 

Description of the character, manners, and customs of the people of India

And of their institutions, religious and civil.

J.A. Dubois

London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1817.

Special Collections, New York University

Special Collections copy inscribed on front pastedown and titlepage: “Eliza Giffard Nerquis Flintshire”. Bound in drab publishers paper boards, with manuscript hand ‘India’ along spine and remainder of hand at head of spine [unclear]. Spine has been rebacked, saving parts of original.

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Title-page of book with ownership inscription
Title-page of “Description of the character, manners, and customs of the people of India” (1817), with ownership inscription. Courtesy NYU Special Collections.
Inside cover of book showing ownership inscription.
Front paste-down of “Description of the character, manners, and customs of the people of India” (1817), showing ownership inscription.

Letters of the late Ignatius Sancho, an African.

In two volumes. To which are prefixed, memoirs of his life. The first[-second] volume.

Ignatius Sancho

Second edition

London: Printed for J. Nichols; and C. Dilly in the Poultry, 1783.

New York University, Fales Library & Special Collections

SpecCol. c.1 has inscription: “Eliza Giffard- Nerquis, Flintshire, 1807”–front pastedown (v.1 & v.2). SpecCol. c.1 has 2 volumes. Bound in full tree calf; gold tooling on spine.

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Inside cover of book showing ownership inscription.
Ownership inscription in volume 2 of “Letters of the late Ignatius Sancho, an African” (1783). Courtesy NYU Special Collections.
Front covers of two leather bound books.
Covers of the two-volume set of “Letters of the late Ignatius Sancho, an African” (1783). Courtesy NYU Special Collections.

Histoire des Variations Des Eglises Protestantes.

Jacques Benigne Bossuet

Paris, Guillaume Desprez et Pierre-Guillaume Cavelier, 1747.

In two volumes. 

New York University, Fales Library & Special Collections

SpecCol. c.1 has inscription: “Eliza Giffard Nerquis, 1809, Flintshire”–T.p.

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Title-page of book with ownership inscription
Title-page of “Histoire des variations des eglises protestantes” (1747), showing ownership inscription. Courtesy NYU Special Collections.
Inside cover of book showing armorial bookplate.
Armorial bookplate on front paste-down of “Histoire des variations des eglises protestantes” (1747). Courtesy NYU Special Collections. 
Front cover and spine of leather bound book
Cover and spine of volume 1 of “Histoire des variations des eglises protestantes”. Courtesy NYU Special Collections.

Private memoirs, Forming, with the Works of M. Hue, and Clery’s Journal, A Complete History of the Captivity of the Royal Family of France, in the Tower of the Temple

Marie-Therese Charlotte, Duchesse d’Angouleme

Edinburgh, George Ramsay and Company, 1817.

New York University, Fales Library & Special Collections

SpecCol. c.1 has inscription: “Eliza Giffard Nerquis, Flintshire” on title page. Additional inscription: “Eliza Giffard” on front pastedown. SpecCol. copy bound in original blue-grey paper boards, tan paper spine with title in manuscript hand at head of spine.

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Book spine with handwritten text along spine.
Spine of “Private memoirs…” (1817), showing manuscript titling along spine. Courtesy NYU Special Collections.
Title-page of book with ownership inscription.
Ownership inscription on title-page of “Private memoirs” (1817). Courtesy NYU Special Collections. 
Inside cover of book showing ownership inscription.
Ownership inscription on front paste-down of “Private memoirs…” (1817). Courtesy NYU Special Collections.

Retrospection, or, A review of the most striking and important events, characters, situations, and their consequences which the last eighteen hundred years have presented to the view of mankind

Hester Lynch Piozzi

London: Printed for J. Stockdale, 1801 ([London] : T. Gillet, Printer)

New York University, Fales Library & Special Collections

Fales Brit c.2 has 2 volumes. Half-title wanting. Bound in full leather; dark red leather spine labels; sprinkled edges (trimmed). Fales Brit c.2 inscribed “Eliza Giffard”–front pastedown, v.2

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Inside cover of book showing ownership inscription.
Ownership inscription on front paste-down of volume 2 of “Retrospection” (1801). Courtesy NYU Special Collections.

Memoirs of the late Thomas Holcroft written by himself

and continued at the time of his death from his diary, notes, and other papers.

Thomas Holcroft

London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown…, 1816.

Morgan Library & Museum

Signed “Eliza Giffard, Verquis Flintshire” [sic] Bequest of Gordon N. Ray. Publisher’s gray boards, paper spine label.

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The history of Prince Lee Boo

a native of the Pelew islands brought to England by Captn. Wilson.

[George Keate]

A new edition.

London: Printed for E. Newbery, the Corner of Saint Paul’s Churchyard ,[not after 1801]

The Newberry Library

Inscribed on inside front cover: Eliza Giffard. Nerquis Flintshire. 1807.

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Dr. Goldsmith’s Roman history

Oliver Goldsmith

Third abridged ed.

London: Printed for S. Baker and G. Leich [i.e. Leigh], in York-street; T. Davies, in Russel-street, Covent-Garden; and L. Davies, in Holborn, MDCCLXXXII [1782].

Harvard University, Hyde Collection

Signature: Eliza Giffard Nerquis Flintshire, 1807

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Animadversions upon Mr. Philips’s History of the life of Cardinal Pole

Timothy Neve, DD

Oxford, At the Clarendon Press, sold by Dan. Prince; J. Robson, 1766.

University of Texas, Harry Ransom Center Book Collection

Copy 2, Unidentified armorial bookplate; inscribed: Eliza Giffard, Nerquis Flintshire 1807.

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The Roman history of C. Velleius Paterculus…

in which the escapes of a late version, done by one Mr. Newcomb, are taken notice of, in remarks at the foot of every page.

Velleius Paterculus.

Edinburgh: Printed for the author, by John Mosman and Co., 1722.

University of Kansas

SpecColl copy: “Maria Eleanora Giffard Nerquis, 1807” written on titlepage.

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