Brown leather binding with red title plates, gilt banding, decoration and title on the spine. Gilt line edging on the boards.

F.B.A. provides an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available.

Three little used fine books with very fine frameable maps.

Richard Valpy (7 December 1754 – 28 March 1836) was a British schoolmaster and priest of the Church of England.

Valpy was born the eldest son of Richard and Catherine Valpy in Jersey. He was sent to schools in Normandy and Southampton and completed his education at Pembroke College, Oxford. In 1777 he was ordained. After holding a mastership at Bury, in 1781 he became headmaster of Reading Grammar School, a post which he held for 50 years. From 1787 he held also the rectory of Stradishall, Suffolk. During the early part of Valpy’s long head-mastership the school flourished greatly. At least 120 boys attended it.

He was the author of Greek and Latin grammars which enjoyed a large circulation. His Greek Delectus and Latin Delectus were long familiar to public school boys. He is said to have been a mighty flogger, and to have refused two bishoprics. In 1800 he was requested by his old pupils to sit for a full-length portrait and 30 years later, on the occasion of his jubilee, he was presented with a service of plate. Mary Russell Mitford spoken of him as vainer than a peacock.

The school was declining before Valpy’s long reign closed. His successor was his son, Francis Valpy (1797-1882), appointed in 1830. Richard Valpy died in London. He is buried in a mausoleum in front of the main chapel in Kensal Green Cemetery.

A statue was erected in St Lawrence’s Church to commemorate him.

He was also the father of printer and publisher Abraham John Valpy and of New Zealand pioneer William Henry Valpy.