8vo. xx, 576pp. With an engraved frontispiece. Contemporary blind-tooled half-calf, marbled paper boards, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece. Lightly rubbed, spine dulled. Armorial bookplate of Kilberry to FEP, frontispiece foxed, offsetting to title page, scattered spotting.

First published in 1820 under the title The black book, or, Corruption unmasked, this work exposing conspiracy and mismanagement within the Church and government of Britain and Ireland was compiled by journalist and author John Wade (1788-1875). Selling fifty thousand copies, it would generate significant support for the reform movement.