[Americana] Carew, Bamfylde [Bampfylde] Moore | Robert Goadby

THE LIFE OF BAMFYLDE [BAMPFYLDE] MOORE CAREW, SOME TIME KING OF THE BEGGARS; Containing an Accurate history of his Travels, Voyages, and Adventures [containing] A Dictionary of the Cant Language Used by the Mendicants.

New York: S. King, 1822. Original Wrappers. Very Good binding. Item #6386

12mo. 31, [1] pp., folding frontis. Early American edition. Untrimmed and stitched into printed wrappers. Light and scattered foxing; some wear to the most outer margins of the longest leaves.

A remarkable imposture, swindler, and con-artist, the Life of Carew made its first appearance in 1745 and captures fantastic and implausible tales. This is one of countless editions in slightly varying titles and dramatically varying lengths printed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Given how popular the work was and how often this was reprinted, it is astonishing how relatively few there are on the market--a scant few dozen. This is a much abbreviated version with a unique and wonderful hand-colored, folding frontispiece of Carew and his various disguises including Quaker, parson, old woman, and rat catcher. Of another variation of this title, Howes notes, "For misdemeanors in his native England this inveterate rouge was transported to Maryland, escaped and operated confidence games among colonial suckers from Virginia to Connecticut, -- the memorable first of a long line of such artists who have continued to flourish in this climate. His purported autobiography appears to have been written by either Robert Goadby or his wife" Howes C-132.

Price: $195.00