ANNOTATED BY A DERBYSHIRE FARMER The Commercial Ledger: or, Gentleman’s, Merchant’s, and Tradesman’s Complete Annual Memorandum-Book, for the Year of Our Lord 1828

The Commercial Ledger with the contemporary ownership inscription for “John Kniveton” in black ink to the front free endpaper, with 27 pages subsequently filled out in his hand. Kniveton’s notes detail his accounts, including his expenses (“missionary money”, “flowers and washing”, a “glazier’s bill”, meat, butter, salt, pig feed, “a portion of laudanum”, chimney sweeping, and the building of a wash house), as well as recording the deaths of family members. Making frequent reference to the selling of cows and pigs, it appears that Kniveton was a farmer, likely resident in Derbyshire, as he also makes several mentions of visits to Derby market.

A typical early nineteenth-century almanac, providing a handy pocket-sized compendium of useful information for the gentleman about town (including details of university terms, quarter sessions, recent laws, taxes, interest rates, mail coaches, and Hackney Coach fares, in addition to lists of bankers, peers, members of the House of Commons, ministers, judges, and monarchs), as well as forming a diary and accounts book.

A seemingly scarce example, with only one copy of this particular title recorded by Copac/Jisc (Bodleian)

Publisher’s original full limp red morocco in folding wallet format, with green morocco interior, incorporating internal pouches at the front and rear for storing papers/notes. All edges gilt. Engraved folding frontispiece depicting the Duke of Clarence (William IV) at the centre of a circular diagram detailing “the population of the British Empire, 1821”. Main text printed in black, with the sections to be filled in by the owner printed in red. A very good copy, the binding with some cracking to the front hinge (although remaining secure), a little wear to the extremities and chipping to the spine ends. The contents with light spotting to the frontispiece and the occasional old splash mark to the odd page are otherwise in very good order.