Bidspirit auction | Attrib. Richard Underwood, New-Year's-Gift, c.1729

Attrib. Richard Underwood, New-Year's-Gift, c.1729 - An 18th-century conduct manual for young men, titled The Young Gentleman's New-Year's-Gift: Or, Advice to a Nephew Concerning the Conduct of his Life. This work is historically attributed to Richard Underwood and was commonly published in London during the early 1730s. The volume is bound in full dark brown leather with horizontal gilt-tooled bands and a partially-faded gilt title label on the spine reading NEW-YEARS GIFT. The title page features a decorative woodcut headpiece, with the text of the dedication beginning directly below the title, preceded by a large woodcut historiated initial M. The text contains moral and practical guidance, with running heads including Lawful Love, &c. and HONESTY. The front flyleaf features elaborate calligraphic flourishes and intertwined initials, possibly H H, in ink or graphite. An early ownership inscription in ink at the top of the title page reads Wm Semple's Book. The printing includes standard 18th-century typographic features such as the long s, catchwords, and signature marks, including F 2, F 3, and G 6.