A Compleat History of the Lives and Robberies Of the most Notorious Highway-Men [highwaymen], Foot-Pads [footpads], Shop-Lifts, and Cheats. To which is prefix'd, The Thieves New Canting-Dictionary. The Fifth Edition. In Two Volumes. by SMITH (CAPT. ALEX., i.e. CAPTAIN ALEXANDER) [fl.1714-1726] - 1719

London: Sam. Briscoe for A. Dodd, 1719. Fifth Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Two volumes. London: Sam. Briscoe for A. Dodd, 1719. 12mo. [ii], viii, l, 48, 1-326; [ii], viii, [xvi], 364 pp. Engraved frontispiece and one plate to each volume. Titles printed in red and black. §Full title reads: A Compleat History of the Lives and Robberies Of the most Notorious Highway-Men, Foot-Pads, Shop-Lifts, and Cheats, of both Sexes, in and about London and Westminster, and all Parts of Great Britain, for above an Hundred Years past, continu'd to the present Time. Wherein their most Secret and Barbarous Murders, Unparalell'd Robberies, Notorious Thefts, and Unheard of Cheats, are set in a true light, and expos'd to publick View, for the common Benefit of Mankind. To which is prefix'd, The Thieves New Canting-Dictionary, Explaining the most mysterious Words, New Terms, Significant Phrases, and Proper Idioms, used at this present Time by our Modern Thieves. The Fifth Edition, (adorn'd with Cuts) with the Addition of near Two Hundred Robberies lately committed. In Two Volumes. §ESTC: 4/7 (Texas copy defective)/1. The Dictionary is bound in immediately before the main text. A very good copy, occasional browning & foxing, rebound in early nineteenth century calf by W. Pratt, all edges gilt, double contrasting labels (one of these a later replacement), with later expert reback with nineteenth century spines laid down and marbled endpapers preserved. Nineteenth century bookplate of Fountaine Walker to front pastedowns. (**This item will require special carriage arrangements - please ask for details**).