Books and Manuscripts

Greener's own copy of his important treatise on guns

London and Edinburgh, 1835. First edition. 8vo. (ii), xix, (i), 240 pp. Author's own copy, and with his illustrated book-plate on front paste-down. Full brown cloth over flexible boards, green morocco spine label, stamped in gilt; all edges gilt; old ownership signature on half-title; bookseller's ticket on rear paste-down; old booksellers receipt laid in; in fall-down-back box. Riling 462

"An important and forceful treatise by a prolific inventor and pioneer Birmingham gun-maker, (1806-1869), and founder in 1829 of the 'House of Greener'... Greener laments the sorry state into which contemporary English gunmaking has fallen, gives suggestions for improvement, and notes means of detecting the frauds and deceits practiced in the manufacture of inferior arms. Colonel Peter Hawker endorses this first of the Greener books as 'by far the best work that was ever wrote on the subject.' (The book served as a stimulus to his business.)" (Riling 462)

From the library of bibliographer, bookseller, and arms collector Raymond L.J. Riling (1896-1974), and with his illustrated book-plate on front paste-down.