[Rarebooks] FS: 1780 Poll-Book for Newark-Upon-Trent

[John Howell]

Offered today:

Taxation With Representation

Anonymous.  

An Alphabetical List of the Poll, for the Election of Two Representatives to Serve in Parliament, for the Borough of Newark-Upon-Trent; Taken Before the Worshipful Wm. Martin, Esq. Mayor, on the 9th Day of September, 1780.  Candidates, The Rt. Hon. Lord George Sutton, Sir Henry Clinton, Knt. of the Bath, and Robert Foster, Esquire.  

Newark: Printed by James Tomlinson, 1780.  

12mo.  6 3/8 x 4 inches.  35, [1 blank] pp.  Initial A on page 3 within a border of typographic ornaments, poll lists within ruled columns; text clean, unmarked.  Ornately gilt-stamped dark red morocco, “Newark Election 1780” stamped in gilt on front cover, all edges gilt, marbled end-papers; binding square and tight, rubbed, 2 small gouges in the leather on the front and rear covers.  Very Good.  
$ 250
FIRST EDITION.  The general election for Parliament of 1780 was precipitated a year early (as prescribed by the Septennial Act) because there was an opposition movement in Parliament and in the provinces that was impatient with government expenditures and corruption, especially due to the continuing war of rebellion in the North American colonies which had turned into a global conflict. Newark-Upon-Trent was an important market town in the eastern midlands of England in Nottinghamshire.  As was required by election rules at the time, the male voters had to present themselves before the leading figure of the polling place, in this instance the Mayor of Newark, William Martin, in order to have their verbal votes recorded.  767 electors cast their votes, including cord-wainers, collar-makers, sadlers, butchers, inn-keepers, farmers, braziers, and their social superiors.  32 eligible voters failed to show for the poll.  

There were 3 candidates for 2 seats: The Rt. Honorable Lord George Sutton, Sir Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath, and Robert Foster, Esquire.  Sir Henry Clinton (1730-1795) won a seat in Parliament with 519 votes.  At the time of the election, Clinton was in North America, serving as Commander-in-Chief for North America, prosecuting an effective campaign to suppress the rebellious southern colonies of North America.  While Foster left the election without a seat, George Manners-Sutton (1751-1804) returned as a member of Parliament for Newark for a second term.  

Among the voters was one James Tomlinson, bookseller (who voted for Clinton and Foster), the same individual who printed this small booklet.  Tomlinson was the first printer in Newark. Publishing was soon to emerge as one of the town’s leading industries, with a small nucleus of firms that turned out books and pamphlets which achieved an important place in the English literary world.  Among the items printed by Tomlinson was A History of the Civil Wars in Germany and Memoirs of the Wars in England, attributed to one Daniel Defoe.  

TERMS OF SALE: Offered subject to prior sale.  Payment with order.  20% courtesy to the trade. Institutions may be billed.  Can accept check, PayPal, or credit cards.  Guaranteed as described. Returns accepted for any reason within ten days of receipt; please notify me of your intentions before returning.  $6.00 domestic media mail insured or $10.00 Priority Mail insured.  International orders shipped and insured at cost. 


John Howell, ABAA, ILAB, IOBA

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