£120
12mo, pp. vii, [i], 152. Contemporary sheep, spine divided by gilt rules. A little toned, half-title foxed. Rubbed, stitching strained in places, front joint split but cords holding, a little wear to extremities, flyleaves excised. Pencil inscription to rear pastedown: ‘Inverary Edinburgh 2. June 1807’, ‘Inverary June’ in pencil to half-title in same hand, a few marginal pencil doodles.
A scarce Edinburgh printing of lexicographer William Scott's guide to clear speech. Although similarly-titled to Scott's 'Lessons in Elocution' which first saw print in 1779, it is a different work, with 'Lessons' being more of a themed anthology to be read aloud; the present work 'Elements' is organised around rules of elocution followed by short examples. Most biographical sources suggest Scott died in 1804, but this and its 1808 second edition both have prefaces dated in their respective publication years purporting to be written by him, so either the biographical sources are wrong, or an enterprising publisher was cashing in on the success of the earlier work. Library Hub and Worldcat record just a single copy between them, in the BL.
