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Lot 33

[BLIGH (WILLIAM)]
Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court-martial Held at Portsmouth, August 12, 1792. On Ten Persons Charged with Mutiny on Board His Majesty's Ship the Bounty. With an Appendix, Containing a Full Account of the Real Causes and Circumstances of that Unhappy Transaction, the Most Material of Which Have Hitherto Been Withheld from the Public

19 June 2013, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £31,250 inc. premium

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[BLIGH (WILLIAM)]

Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court-martial Held at Portsmouth, August 12, 1792. On Ten Persons Charged with Mutiny on Board His Majesty's Ship the Bounty. With an Appendix, Containing a Full Account of the Real Causes and Circumstances of that Unhappy Transaction, the Most Material of Which Have Hitherto Been Withheld from the Public, first edition, short tear at inner margin of title, blank corner of pp.77/78 torn away (replaced), contemporary tree calf gilt, rebacked [Ferguson 175; Hill 1162; Kroepelien 43], 4to (271 X 192mm.), J. Deighton, 1794

Footnotes

FIRST EDITION. "EXCEEDINGLY RARE" (Ferguson) account of the proceedings of the court-martial of the Bounty mutineers, seemingly published in a very small edition for distribution to those closely involved in the trial. It was published from the court notes of Stephen Barney, who successfully represented William Muspratt at the trial. The main work comprises Bligh's deposition to the court and the evidence (with cross-examination by the court an the accused) of John Fryer, William Cole, William Purcell, William Peckover, Thomas Hayward, John Smith, John Hallet, Captain Edwards, and lieutenants Larkin and Corner (of the Pandora). The Appendix contains a considerable amount of material not found elsewhere, including a defence of the behaviour of Christian Fletcher written by his brother Edward, written according to Bligh "for the purpose of vindicating his brother at my expense".

Provenance: George Forbes, 6th Earl of Grannard (1760–1837), with armorial bookplate.

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