Pocket diary: Yorkshire

The Yorkshire memorandum book

      [Pocket diary: Yorkshire.] The Yorkshire memorandum book; or new daily journal, for the year of our Lord, 1782. Containing one hundred and four pages of ruled writing paper, for the purpose of keeping accounts of receipts, disbursements, appointments, &c. York: printed by W. Blanchard and Co., for the booksellers of York; sold by Richardson and Urquhart (London); and all other booksellers, n.d. (1781). xvi, (106), 59(1) pp. 8vo, contemporary sheep (edges worn), rebacked, black morocco label, later plain paper title-label on upper cover. First edition. The first attempt to create a pocket diary designed specifically for use in Yorkshire; the notion was sufficiently successful that publication continued on an annual basis through the 1790's, though records of surviving copies are sparse. The opening pages provide information about local fines, transport, postal services and rates, etc. The section at the end contains an account of the city of York, and of Yorkshire as a whole, along with the names of local officials, etc., and a particularly full list of the results of horse races throughout Great Britain during the whole of 1781. Of particular interest is a closely-printed three-page description of the entertainments of York (signed "N. S."), with critical remarks on the performances of various actors and actresses who appeared on the York circuit. Few of these pocket diaries appear to have survived. The ESTC (01/03) lists one copy only for this first year (L, lacking 10 pp. from the diary section), along with single copies for 1793 (NcD, imperfect), and 1796 (LEu). Title-page trimmed a trifle close at the top (touching "The"), but generally in very good condition.