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Brand, John.
Observations on Popular Antiquities: Including the whole of Mr. Bourne's Antiquitates Vulgares, with Addenda to Every Chapter of that Work: As also an Appendix, Containing such Articles on the Subject, as have been omitted by that Author.
Publisher: Printed for Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, Poultry; James Cundee, Ivy-Lane; and W. Baynes, London;
Date of Publication: 1810
Stock Code: 14508
Octavo, pp., xxiv, 471, [1] errata. Later half calf over marbled paper-covered boards, titled in gilt to red leather spine label. Top edge dyed red. Shelf-wear to extremities, slight scuffs to boards. A few light spots of foxing and toning to contents, soiling to title-page, but generally clean and rather neat. Lacks the publisher’s ads. A very good copy. A work of early nineteenth-century folklorism (then called ‘popular antiquarianism’) by two Newcastle antiquarians. John Brand (1744-1806) historian and folklorist was Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries from 1784 until his death (he was elected annually for 22 years ) and was both curate and librarian to the Duke of Northumberland. The sale of his library ‘Bibliotheca Brandiana’ was held over six weeks with over 12,000 lots of books being sold. This work comprises his extensive annotations and additions to Henry Bourne’s (c. 1694-1733) pioneering work on folklore: ‘Antiquitates Vulgares’ pub 1725. The volume provides accounts of English folk rituals, ceremonies, and cultural practices which draws heavily from folklore of the northern counties and was described by Iona Opie as ‘the folklorists and journalists’ first resource’. A significant work in English folklorism, produced by two eminent Novocastrian historians. £65.00