THE HELL FIRE CLUB
SALE CATALOGUE
OF
A PRIVATE COLLECTION ANCIENT AND MODERN
From Medmenham Abbey, West Wycombe House &c.
Description of contents:
The catalogue is composed of items from the Hell Fire Club divided into three sections with a live link to the owners’ website with each item in the catalogue.
Original items 18th century
Original items 20th century
Original items contemporary
Items owned by persons connected to the Hell Fire Club are exceedingly rare, items of a private devotional nature and items connected to ritual and religious observance have never been available before.
The collection includes ritual and religious objects, books, prints, drawings, personal memorabilia and occult paraphernalia extending over two centuries and collected over a thirty-year period of active involvement with the famed ‘Society of St Francis of Wycombe’ (aka The Hell Fire Club).
ORIGINAL ITEMS:
2)Provenance: family of the poet Paul Whitehead (1710-1774) original Steward to Sir Francis Dashwood and The Hell Fire Club at Medmenham and West Wycombe.
ITEM: Signed authors copy with inscriptions revealing the original membership of The Hell Fire Club.
CHRYSAL, OR THE ADVENTURES OF A GUINEA by ‘An ADEPT’ (Charles Johnstone) 2 vols 1764
Paul Whitehead, satiric poet and
First Steward to The Hell Fire Club
This set inscribed: ‘The Gift of ye Author July 24 1769’ to one George Whitehead, nephew to Paul Whitehead who was the First Steward to The Hell Fire Club in its heyday. Paul Whitehead was a famous satiric poet and organised events and meals for Dashwood and the members at Medmenham Abbey and later in the caves at West Wycombe.
The two volume novel by Johnstone is remarkable in that it effectively names personages of the day and their association with Dashwood and underground activities in the mid 18th century. Taking the form of a narrative delivered by a coin (a guinea) passing from hand to hand, the novel is unique in this regard and in the fact that the author must have had much insight into Dashwoods society as the prime symbol of entry into the Inner Circle was by the casting of a golden coin at a decanter.
Mentioned with a photograph in ‘Secret Symbols of The Hell Fire Club’ and formed part of the authors personal collection.
Original brown calf full binding with gilt rules and fillets to the raised bands, a very beautiful and untouched original item.
