The Royal Exile; or, Poetical Epistles of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her captivity in England: with other Original Poems

London : Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, & Brown, and Taylor & Hessey, 1822 A scarce copy of the 1st edition of this work in 2 volumes in the original publisher's boards. The title page states that the work was 'by a young lady. Also by her father' - the young lady in question was Mary Roberts (related to the Mary Roberts of natural history fame). It was sold by subscription. This copy has a small ink signature of Mary Alderson to both volumes - who is possibly related to one of the subscribers - Revd. J Alderson. The publisher's binding is in very poor condition - it was not intended to last - and the contents are untrimmed - awaiting proper binding. Vol I: frontispiece (detached and with foxing); title page; description of frontispiece (note first few leaves beginning to detach); dedication to Mrs Hannah More; Note on the Aged Female Society; subscribers; preface; half tiltle; Sketch of Mary's Life (note there is a mark affecting pp 7/8); Dissertation; Observations on the Life John Knox; Conclusion; Death and the Rival Queens. 171pp plus preliminaries. Vol II: title page; Lines Introductory to Mary Queen of Scots Letters; Letters and Notes (each letter is followed by a Note). 276pp. The contents are generally very clean and in good to very good condition - well worth a new binding.