An Authentic and Genuine Narrative of the Life and Surprizing...
The "Monarch of Highwaymen" [Criminals]. [Great Britain]. [Hawke, William (d.1774)]. An Authentic and Genuine Narrative of the Life and Surprizing Exploits, Of William Hawke, The Famous Highwayman, Who Was Executed at Tyburn, July 1, 1774, For Robbing Mr. Charles Hart, On the Highway, Of 1s. 8d. Containing I. An Account of His Birth, Education, And First Entrance on the Thieving Trade. II. Of His Numerous Robberies, Both as a Footpad, And on the Highway. III. Instances of his Generosity and Compassion to Persons in Distress. IV. His Excursion to France, With His Character of That Country and People. V. His Transportation to America, And Return from Thence. VI. His Escape Out of Tothil-Fields Bridewell. VII. His Battle with Captain Cunningham and Mr. Hart. VIII The Manner of His Apprehension, With His Desperate Resistance. IX. His Behaviour Under Sentence of Death in Newgate, And at the Place of Execution. X. Reflections on the Causes of the Numerous Robberies on the Highway. Exhibiting Such Uncommon Instances of Boldness and Audacity, As are Scarcely to be Found in the Annals of Newgate, Or the History of Tyburn. With Two Copper-Plates; One Being a Striking Likeness of the Criminal, The Other the Manner of His Robbing Capt. Cunningham and Mr. Hart. London: Printed for the Author; And Sold by R. Richards, 1774. [iii], 6-30 pp. Frontispiece of two facing copperplates. Octavo (8-3/4" x 5-1/2"). Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into later cloth, gilt title to spine. Light rubbing to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities with some wear to spine ends and corners, hinges just starting. Moderate toning, faint dampstaining to margins and gutters of most leaves, light soiling, edgewear and a few minor tears to plates, early repair to inside-bottom corner of first plate of frontispiece, second plate just beginning to detach but secure, along with title page and following two leaves, light soiling to title page and verso of final leaf. $1,500. * Only edition. Cunning and frequently vicious, Hawke and his confederates were also known for their generosity and compassion towards the poor and afflicted. Known as the "Monarch of Highwaymen," Hawke was captured twice by Sir John Fielding's men. The first time, in 1770, he was sentenced to transportation to America with one of his companions, but escaped back to England twelve months later and re.
Price: $1,500.00
Book number 78509