A previously unknown work published by John Bellamy in 1624 which sold for £8800 at Stride & Son.
The small volume offered at Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) of Chichester on September 7 was an appeal for the relief of the poor in England, titled Great Cryes Turned into great Joyes; with bountifill helpes, and good hopes, to increase the same. That is; the Cryes of the Poore in the Cittie of London, and elsewhere, turned into Great Joyes.
The book, in its original stitched state without wrappers or covers, was printed in 1624 by John Dawson and published by John Bellamy (‘Bellamie’) to be “sold at his shop at the Three Golden Lyons in Cornehill” near the Royal Exchange.
A previously unknown work published by John Bellamy in 1624 which sold for £8800 at Stride & Son.
The book - which was estimated at £400-600 - has interest on many levels and two key factors add to its value.
Firstly, it is possibly the only surviving copy and unrecorded in any public library and untraced in auction records. Secondly, the publisher and bookseller John Bellamy (c.1596-1653) was a noted printer of Americana.
Although Bellamy never travelled abroad himself, he published the writings of many Puritan religious and political leaders, explorers and historians and New England colonists.
As an example, in the same year that Great Cryes was published, Bellamy also issued Good newes from New England by Edward Winslow.
Bellamy supplied New England colonists with books, including William Brewster who had sailed on the Mayflower in 1620.
