Heading: (Charades)
Author: [Norton, Andrews, attributed complier]
Title: Original Charades
Place Published: Cambridge
Publisher:Sold at the Ladies' Fair, Held on the 17th and 18th of July, 1839
Date Published: 1839
Description:

xvi, 88 pp. (Oblong 12mo) 12x15 cm (4¾x6"), original blind-stamped brown cloth, spine with gilt lettering. Separately printed "Key to Original Charades" laid in. First and only edition.

An unusual and charming collection of 68 literary riddles in verse, preceded by a 16-page introduction on the history of charades.

Though issued anonymously, all indications of responsibility point to Harvard professor and theologian Andrews Norton (1786-1853), and the separately printed key with this copy supports that: 20 of the 68 charades listed are identified in a contemporary hand as being by "A.N." Several others are identified as being by "M.E.D" and "Mrs. F." There are riddles on a variety of subjects, including Wordsworth, Goldsmith, Lowell, and Edgeworth; and there are two attributed to fictional characters Jonathan Oldbuck (from Scott's The Antiquary) and Sir Charles Grandison (from Richardson's novel). On the front free endpaper is the ink ownership signature of distinguished American maritime historian Samuel Eliot Morrison

Some wear and rubbing to cloth, a bit of loss at spine head; light toning and scattered light foxing; very good.