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[CHETWOOD, William Rufus]
The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Robert Boyle, in Several Parts of the World…
to Which is Added, the Voyage, Shipwreck, and Miraculous Preservation of Richard Castelman, Gent. with a Description of the City of Philadelphia, and the County of Pennsylvania.
First edition. "Howes points out that Boyle's narrative must probably be a work of pure fiction, and certainly any reading of the novel supports his contention. Like the Thousand and One Nights, the novel is a series of tales, each new story prompted by a character in the last" (Imaginary Voyages). Sabin states that Castelman's narrative, which is distinguished by having a separate title page, "bears the mark of authenticity." In ODNB, where the present work is unequivocally identified as a novel, Chetwood is described as "an active but minor participant in the theatrical and publishing worlds of the first half of the eighteenth century. He knew everyone, travelled everywhere, and explored every conceivable avenue to financial stability, only to fail."
Octavo (193 × 111 mm). Contemporary panelled calf, neatly rebacked, red morocco label, edges sprinkled red. Housed in a tan quarter morocco slip case, in limp cloth chemise. Engraved frontispiece of a ship attacked by natives, by van der Gucht, head- and tailpieces. Bookplate of Frank S. Streeter to front pastedown. Slightly rubbed, conjoined wormholes through the front free endpaper and first few leaves, including the frontispiece and titlepage, light browning, but overall very good.
