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Eccentric Lord Timothy Dexter: Two 1838 Books Early American Eccentric Lord Timothy Dexter: Two 1838

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Eccentric Lord Timothy Dexter: Two 1838 Books Early American Eccentric Lord Timothy Dexter: Two 1838
<B>Early American Eccentric Lord Timothy Dexter: Two 1838 Books Including "Pickle".</B></I> It's hard to summarize a character like Timothy Dexter (1748-1806) in a few short sentences; it's also difficult to sort fact from legend. One of America's most beloved and celebrated eccentrics, Dexter was born to a poor family on Malden, Massachusetts and was self-taught. In reality, he made a fortune speculating in government securities, currency, and West Indies goods. In later life, he suggested that his wealth was made from: sending warming pans and wool mittens to the tropical West Indies; selling coal to Newcastle; exporting bibles to the East Indies; and shipping stray cats to the Caribbean islands. He actually held his own mock funeral and watched the hordes of attendees from the cupola of his house. Offered in this lot are two great little volumes: <BR><BR><B><I>Life of Timothy Dexter</B></I></B></I>; <I>Embracing Sketches of the Eccentric Characters that Composed his Associates</B></I> by Samuel L. Knapp (Boston: G. N. Thomson, 1838), 108 pages, frontispiece, 16mo (4" x 6.25"), gilt title on front cover. Portion of spine missing, front hinge starting, pages toned, still a nice copy. <BR><BR><B><I>A Pickle for the Knowing Ones,</B></I></B></I> <I>or Plain Truths in a Homespun Dress. By the Late Lord Timothy Dexter, with an Introductory Essay on His Life and Genius, and Explanatory Noted.</B></I> by Peter Quince (Boston: Otis, Broaders and Company, 1838), 42 pages, 12mo (4.5" x 7"), marbled boards rebacked with title handwritten in black, bookplate showing donation to Harvard College Library from Dr. E. Stanley Abbot on front pastedown. Clean, tight copy. From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection.