BOK.ENG.AD1812.v1

Letters of Junius Vol I

Junius: Including letters by the same writer, under other signatures, (now first collected.) to which are added, his confidential correspondence with Mr. Wilkes, and his private letters addressed to Mr. H. S. Woodfall. With a preliminary essay, notes, fac-similes, &c. in three volumes. Vol. I. Stat Nominis Umbra.

Junius is a pseudonym of a heretofore unknown author who wrote letters to the publisher of the Public Advertiser, Henry Sampson Woodfall, to be published. His letters were critical of British government and of the king at the time, King George III. Such actions were considered criminal, making all the more sense for Junius to maintain their anonymity. Junius's letters were published by Woodfall in his paper, who was "charged with seditious libel, although he was not convicted of this charge when the case eventually came to trial" (Alexander).

The letters in the three volumes cover a time period from the middle of 1767 to the middle of 1772. They were published by Henry Sampson's son, G. Woodfall.

Junius's letters and their subsequent publication created actual changes in British government and were among some of the first examples of journalism affecting public policy.

Each volume contains pull-out pages showing examples of Junius' handwriting.
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Alexander, Jane. “The Anonymous Writer Who Brought Down A Prime Minister.” Londonist, January 29, 2020. https://londonist.com/london/history/junius-anonymous-letter-writer.

1812 AD

Junius

G. Woodfall for F.C. and J. Rivington et. al.

London

England

18th Century

19th Century

Print

English History of Writing Collection See all items with this value

English Book See all items with this value

English Printed materials (object genre) See all items with this value

English Commentary See all items with this value

English

"James Toovey" written on the bottom of the verso side of the first endpaper

Political science See all items with this value

Journalism See all items with this value

Propaganda See all items with this value

Compilation of Letters

Junius, active 18th century. Junius: including lettes by the same writier, under other signatures, (now first collected.) to which are added, his confidential correspondence with Mr. Wilkes, and his private letters addressed to Mr. H. S. Woodfall. With a preliminary essay, notes, fac-similes, &c. in three volumes. Vol 1. 3 vol. London: G. Woodfall for F.C. and J. Rivington et. al., 1812.