The Rev:d D:r Dodd.
[Engraved by J.R. Smith?]
London, Pub.d May 24, 1777, by J. Walker, N.13, Parliament Street.
Mezzotint, sheet 355 x 255mm (14 x 10"), with large margins. Left platemark cracked.
The Rev. William Dodd (1729 - 1777), parson and author who was hanged for forgery. In February 1777 he offered a bond for £4,200 in the name of Lord Chesterfield to a stockbroker named Robertson. Robertson procured the money, for which, according to Dodd, Chesterfield would pay an annuity of £700. Dodd then brought the bond apparently signed by the earl. The bond was transferred to the lender's solicitor, who noticed some odd marks on the document, saw the earl personally, learned that the signature was a forgery, and instantly obtained warrants from the lord mayor against Dodd and Robertson. Despite attempts to obtain a pardon, especially by Dr. Johnson, who composed several papers for him, Dodd was sentenced on 26 May and hanged in June. Traditionally attributed to John Raphael Smith (1751=1812).
Frankau: 114, iii of iii. D'Oench: 97. CS: p.1726, no.53: iii of iii. Ex: the Kedleston Hall collection.
[Ref: 51285] £240.00
London, Pub.d May 24, 1777, by J. Walker, N.13, Parliament Street.
Mezzotint, sheet 355 x 255mm (14 x 10"), with large margins. Left platemark cracked.
The Rev. William Dodd (1729 - 1777), parson and author who was hanged for forgery. In February 1777 he offered a bond for £4,200 in the name of Lord Chesterfield to a stockbroker named Robertson. Robertson procured the money, for which, according to Dodd, Chesterfield would pay an annuity of £700. Dodd then brought the bond apparently signed by the earl. The bond was transferred to the lender's solicitor, who noticed some odd marks on the document, saw the earl personally, learned that the signature was a forgery, and instantly obtained warrants from the lord mayor against Dodd and Robertson. Despite attempts to obtain a pardon, especially by Dr. Johnson, who composed several papers for him, Dodd was sentenced on 26 May and hanged in June. Traditionally attributed to John Raphael Smith (1751=1812).
Frankau: 114, iii of iii. D'Oench: 97. CS: p.1726, no.53: iii of iii. Ex: the Kedleston Hall collection.
[Ref: 51285] £240.00