First edition. (Bigmore & Wyman I, 260). "A very interesting biography of a distinguished country printer. It contains also a number of details relative to the history of typography during the second half of the eighteenth century." Thorpe found this manuscript in an Irish collection he had purchased. Gent had written the manuscript in 1746, 32 years before his death at the age of 85. See Lowndes p.875 for further comment on this work. Cracked along back hinge. With an ink inscription on the front free endpaper "E.T. Mason, Feb. 1877" and a note by him stating that he had purchased this copy at the Hastie-Tracy sale 30c." Well preserved copy.