[Lance, E J]. [Manuscript commonplace Book]. [London]. [1811-1856].

8vo, 21cm, c.140ff (c.10ff blank). Original half ribbed roan (endcaps and corners worn), blind-ruled spine (chipped at head; lower half of one leaf excised).

This unusual commonplace book, by Edward Jenner Lance, the agricultural author, collects a number of unusual entries on subjects as diverse as an example of a contradictory letter or letter of hatred; a description of an advertisement for a “Fantocini” puppet-show in Lewisham in 1812; the spread of venereal disease,; paper money at the cape of good hope; guilt and shame; rapes of the Romans; divorce, etc..

The book is indexed and many entries are identified with author, text and page number and it is reasonable to suppose that this a record of his use of books and readership. Following the commonplace section is a 10,000 word lecture of free-masonry and a section on the analysis of soil, stone and urine. [Ref: 807]