(Bumstead, Joseph). Utile cum Dulci: Beauties of the most Eminent, Periodical, British Classics. Designed for the School and Library. Boston: Printed for Joseph Bumstead..&c., 1802. First Edition. [11078]
Full calf, red leather spine title label with gilt lines, rear joint cracked, 6 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches, tight. Lacks one of the front blanks. [1]-322, [2]. Text is complete; the last two pages are The Contents. Page number errors: p. 225, 264, 300 misnumbered 205, 250, 288; leaf Z3 torn with loss of a few letters; light foxing. Good. Hardcover.
Shaw & Shoemaker 1855. Caption title: Beauties of the British classics; running & spine title: British classics.
An anthology taken from the British periodicals the Guardian, the Tatler, and the Spectator.
In addition to religious topics, there are entries treating with Eloquence, Envy, Exercise, Free-Thinkers, Friendship, Gaming, Gentlemen, Good-Humour, Grief, Happiness, Knowledge of One's Self, Marriage, Modesty, &c.
We attribute this compilation to Joseph Bumstead (c. 1768-1838), a Boston printer, bookseller, and publisher. He opened his printing shop in 1790 and over the next ten years his imprint appears approximately 70 times. His press produced almanacs, religious works, sermons, the poetry of John Miltion, and an edition of Pilgrim's Progress (1800).
