The Guardian

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, 1745. [Newspaper] JANE AUSTEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION. In two volumes. Small octavo (17 x 11cm), pp.362; [10]; pp.369; [15]. Contemporary full speckled calf with gilt volume numbers to spines. Armorial bookplates of Thomas Austen to pastedowns of both volumes. Black ink gift inscriptions to Margaretta Morland to the flyleaf of both volumes, dated 1799. Internally clean with just occasional spotting, binding lightly worn and rubbed. Very good. Thomas Austen was the brother of Jane Austen's grandfather, William Austen. Both took up apprenticeships in London, but later moved to their mother's home town of Tonbridge, setting up practices as apothecaries and surgeons. Consequently, William Austen's son George attended Tonbridge School from 1741, and won an exhibition to Oxford to study Divinity. The 'Guardian' was originally published from 12th March to 1st October 1713 following the discontinuation of the Whig newspapers 'Tatler' and 'Spectator', professing at the outset to abstain from political questions. Addison contributed with 51 papers, and contributions were also made by the philosopher and Bishop George Berkeley (1685-1753), the poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744), and the poet John Gay (1685-1732).