Blake, J. L. A General Biographical Dictionary, comprising A Summary Account of the Most Distinguished Persons of All Ages, Nations, and Professions. Including more than one thousand articles of American Biography. New York: J. P. Peaslee, 1836. [10927]
Full sheep, black leather spine title label, joints good, some general wear but no damage, faint outline of removed institutional label, 11 x 7 3/8 inches, tight. Marbled page edges and end papers. Library emboss on the title page, "withdrawn" stamp on verso of the same. No other obvious library markings/matter. 1060 relatively clean pages, some light foxing, thin marginal stain on the first few leaves. Very good. Hardcover.
An enormous reference, based, in part, on Lempriere, but not exclusively.
"The compiler...has been induced to avail himself of the labors of Lempriere so far as they were in agreement with his own views. That is, when an article, or a succession of articles, in that author's work was found to be as good as could be had from other sources, whether selected or original, it was resolved to adopt it. But when it could be abridged, or enlarged, or otherwise improved, it was subjected to careful revision; or, when its place could be better supplied, the compiler resorted to other sources. For the latter purpose he flatters himself that the means were abundantly ample; and, his habits in this description of research and literary toil, he trusts, will be a sufficient guarantee, that those means were not neglected." - Preface.
John Lauris Blake (1788-1857), a native of New Hampshire; educated at Brown University, a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, serving congregations at Providence, Concord, and Boston during his ministry. "He was for about twelve years the principal of a young ladies' school, during which time he published a number of popular text-books." - M'Clintock & Strong.
