The First Whig. An Account of the Parliamentary Career of William Sacheverell, the Origin of the Two Great Political Parties and the Events Which Led Up to the Revolution of 1688

Scarborough: Printed by the Author at His Private Press. 1894. 8vo (23.5 cm x 15.5 cm). F First Edition. H Hard Cover. Very Good. First edition. Exceptionally scarce history of the Whig Party and William Sacheverell, written and privately printed by the author, Sir George Sitwell. Chapters arranged chronologically: The Country Party; The Popish Plot; The Impeachment of Danby; The Bill of Exclusion; The Green Ribbon Club; Electioneering Methods of the Whigs; The Later History of Pope-Burning; The Tory Reaction; Life in the Country; and The Revolution; with Appendices: Titus Oates and the Tory Party; The Members of the Green Ribbon Club; Index of Sacheverell's Speeches; and Index of Authorities Referred to in the Text. Includes numerous illustrations, with depictions of the Green Ribbon Club and a pope-burning. Tan cloth with calf spine, gilt spine lettering, xvi, 225p. One page prospectus tipped onto front free endpaper describing the book as "An account of the political career of William Sacheverell, the first Whig leader of the House of Commons. This will make a small 4to of some sixty pages, with a few illustrations, and will be issued in June, 1891. There are no copies for sale". We know of no 1891 edition, nor of any editions of that size and configuration, so perhaps the book just took the author longer longer than originally anticipated, resulting in a much longer book. Some wear and chipping to the spine ends (see image provided), gilt spine lettering dulled. Corners bumped, some of the fabric frayed. Internally much better, with good hinges, firm binding, very clean pages free from names, markings, etc. Endpapers lightly soiled but otherwise very clean. Discreet single library stamp on reverse side of title page, no other library indicia. A clean and sound copy.