Boswell, Claude Irvine, Lord BamutoBiblio.com
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1795248555County Fife Scotland 1795. 2 1/2 pp. pen and ink on a folded sheet. 4to 10 x 15 3/4 inches; 250 x 400 mm. across the fold. Unusual fold lines. In custom cloth chemise. 2 1/2 pp. pen and ink on a folded sheet. 4to 10 x 15 3/4 inches; 250 x 400 mm. across the fold. With: <br /> <br /> HORSBRUGH Thomas Deputy sheriff clerk. Autograph Letter signed "Thos. Horsbrugh" to Claud I Boswell. Cupar Scotland: 24 October 1795. 4to 10 x 15 3/4 inches; 250 x 400 mm. across the fold. 3 1/4 pp. Usual fold lines. A very good copy. <br /> <br /> Torrential rains in the autumn of 1795 decimated cereal crops in the southwest of Scotland. This letter from then Sheriff of Fife Claud Irvine Boswell is an appeal for assistance sent to first Viscount Melville Henry Dundas 1742-1811. Boswell indicates as an enclosure a letter from Thomas Horsbrugh in which the deputy sheriff clerk assesses the extent of the damages in nearby Cupar. <br /> <br /> Written in clear and legible late-eighteenth-century cursive hands these are interesting historical artifacts that document Boswell's extraordinary concern for public welfare: "I presume you will consider the account of the crop in this country as important from the consequences that may result therefrom if some remedy is not provided. It is not the Farmer who suffers the most from the badness of the Crop but the great body of the people the labouring poor.". unknown
17912864London: NP 1791. First Edition. Letter. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE LETTER FROM JAMES BOSWELL TO CARETAKER ANDREW GIBB DATED "30 APRIL 1791" TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON. BOLDLY SIGNED WITH FULL SIGNATURE. Rarely at ease with himself James Boswell was famously a man of contradictions vacillating between different versions of his identity: Lecherous rake or doting husband Sophisticated Londoner or Scottish farmer Savvy businessman or indulgent landlord Rebellious rogue or obedient son If we were to put a pin on Boswell's most consistent character trait it may simply be 'contradictory.'<br /> <br /> In this letter written just two weeks before the publication of Life of Samuel Johnson we see these contradictions on display. The letter to Boswell's new estate manager Andrew Gibb offers a glimpse into Boswell's mind and affairs. On the one hand we see Boswell the provincial gentleman farmer concerned with the daily decisions of running Auchinleck his Scottish estate such as when he mentions "It will be very right to have the hayseed sold" and "let the bull calf be sold." At the same time despite his attempt to make financially savvy choices we are reminded of Boswell's well known kindness to his tenants as is seen here in his attempts to provide "some advantage to the tenants in the way of employment." But of course the managing of his ancestral home was not consistently a priority to Boswell. He pens the letter from London after all. And lest he manage to stay consistently professional and on task in his letter Boswell interrupts his own discussion of the management of Auchinleck with an angry declaration about a former tenant's offenses stating "I find Andrew Dalrymple behaves very ill. He must not be spared." Having followed his own disjointed stream of consciousness he returns to the financial affairs of the state without acknowledging his heated aside. <br /> <br /> What must Andrew Gibb have thought Even within this declaration about Andrew Dalrymple's supposedly terrible misdeeds we see contradictory behavior. In another letter to Gibb of the same year Boswell still furious about Dalrymple goes so far as to demand Gibb "let him be apprehended and imprisoned. I am very unwilling to proceed to extremities; but an example must be made in such a case." Yet apparently months later Dalrymple remained at large. One can imagine Andrew Gibb frequently laughing at his boss's bluster knowing it would likely come to nothing. Although brand new to his role Gibb would continue to serve James Boswell and his descendants as the caretaker to Auchinleck for the next forty-six years. In addition to being called upon to arrest unruly tenants he likely had enormous responsibilities given his boss's frequent absences from the estate as well as his infamously poor business savvy. Indeed at the time of this letter Boswell found himself in a precarious financial situation having taken large loans to purchase the neighborhing estate to Auchinleck.<br /> <br /> Yet we can forgive Boswell's emotional outburst. After all in addition to worrying about his potentially poor business decision and his badly behaved tenant in a few days his magnum opus Life of Samuel Johnson will be released to the world. It is admirable that he is attempting to manage his affairs from afar despite the overwhelming anticipation. He must have been preoccupied with both worry and excitement - will the public appreciate his work Will he succeed in memorializing his great mentor/friend Will the sales be sufficient to justify his audacious land purchases Is all of this haunting his thoughts as he pens this letter to Andrew Gibb <br /> <br /> To add to the energy and anxiety swirling around Boswell's life he notes in the letter that he has just moved to a new address in London on Great Portland Street his final move as he will die in London four years later in 1795. <br /> <br /> The letter grants us a snapshot into the mind of James Boswell during a wonderfully and terrifyingly anticipatory time in his life. It offers us a range of Boswell's contradictions-is he more Londoner or Scotsman Strict or lax landlord Serious estate owner or emotional writer It is delightful to imagine the frantic hand of James Boswell scribbling this letter attempting to stay focused on his faraway affairs while distracted by the expectations of the upcoming weeks. <br /> <br /> The letter reads in full: <br /> <br /> Great Portland Street observe I live here now & not in Queen Anne Street West <br /> 30 April 1791. <br /> Andrew.<br /> <br /> Your last letters have come safe. It will be very right to have the hayseed sold. From a letter from Mr. Grieve at Muir Kirk to Mr. Bruce Campbell I observe that the iron company has commissioned 1000 stone at 6d sixpence delivered there and will perhaps take 1000 more. You must therefore be very active in getting cart to take it to them at a penny a stone which will be some advantage to the tenants in the way of employment. I mentioned before that you must send me a bill for the price. Enclosed is a letter to Mr. Shaw which you will forward. I catchword on recto I find Andrew Dalrymple behaves very ill. He must not be spared. Let the bull calf be sold. <br /> <br /> I remain your wellwisher<br /> <br /> James Boswell. <br /> <br /> Hand-written letter in dark ink with strong and large full signature: "James Boswell." Great Portland Street London England: 30 April 1791. One page 186 mm x 227 mm 7.3" x 8.0 "; Mailing folds with some toning at folds. Contemporary ink smudges in lower margin. In excellent condition in a dark and legible text. Housed in a custom folder. <br /> <br /> SCARCE: We can only trace a handful of James Boswell letters that have ever been on the market.<br /> <br /> References:<br /> <br /> Moss Michael. The Duel between Sir Alexander Boswell and James Stuart: Scottish Squibs and Pistols at Dawn. United Kingdom Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2019.<br /> <br /> Turnbull Gordon. "Boswell James 1740-1795 lawyer diarist and biographer of Samuel Johnson." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. October 10 2019. Oxford University Press. NP unknown
176822871Leipzig: Caspar Fritsch 1768. Contemporary paper-covered boards spine with red title label lettered in gold red edges. 8vo. With an engraved folding map of Corsica 29 x 44 cm by J.D. Philippin geb. Sysang. 2 parts in 1 volume. The first German edition of Boswell's Account of Corsica 1768 translated by Anton Ernst Klausing. In the first part Boswell recounts historical and geographical information about Corsica while the second part includes a lively and detailed narrative of his journey to the island interspersed with conversations with the Corsican patriot and leader Pasquale Paoli. The conversations with Paoli centre on democracy social freedom religion and of course the Corsican Cause. Following Corsica's invasion by the French in 1768 Paoli took refuge in England where he was feted by Samuel Johnson and his circle.Boswell's account was very successful. First published in 1768 it was immediately reprinted several times and translated into French Dutch Italian and German.The map with a small tear binding chafed corners bumped. A very good copy with the bookplate of Franz Pollack-Parnau on front pastedown.l VD 18 10550321; Watson II col. 1211; cf. Cox I pp. 138-9 other eds. Caspar Fritsch, hardcover
17916074London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First Edition. First Edition. 4to. Two volumes. Contemporary attractive speckled calf spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands gilt red and black leather lettering-pieces gilt re-backed preserving original boards. FIRST EDITION second issue of the most celebrated biography in the English language with “give’on p.135 of Vol. I the initial blank in vol. II and all 7 cancels. Engraved portrait frontispiece of Johnson by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds 2 engraved plates of facsimiles by H. Shepherd. Vol. I title-page reinforced at gutter some light soiling a few tiny mostly marginal wormholes marginal tear with loss not affecting text to X3 in vol. II. joints cracking some light chipping; brown cloth slipcase. A splendid copy of a significant book. Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
17686073Glasgow: Edward and Charles Dilly 1768. First Edition First State. First Edition First State. 8vo 195 x 125 mm. Attractive contemporary full polished calf raised bands with red morocco gilt second panel. Original ensheets FIRST EDITION with the map in the first state. Half-title engraved vignette on title-page D2 E2 and Z3 are cancellans with final blank; engraved folding map short tear to fold. Calf neatly rebacked preserving old spine label and endpapers. Provenance: Abel E. Berland with his bookplate. Berland was a thirty-plus year member of the Civic Federation Board of Directors and a past Chairman of the Board. Mr. Berland was an internationally recognized bibliophile and collector of rare manuscripts. This work secured Boswell’s place in London’s literary and political circles. Internally near fine with no foxing. Edward and Charles Dilly unknown
17632092902141701510Not Available 1763. Soft Cover. Fine. Volume: 1 Not Available paperback
1798D18609London: C. Dilly 1798. First Edition. Hardcover. Good. Contemporary calf front board detached. 8vo. iv 446 2. An interesting copy with bookplate of Presidential speechwriter William Safire. <br/><br/> C. Dilly hardcover
178623288London: Printed for Alex Hogg n.d but 1786. hardcover. Rebacked as noted covers show some scuffing corners reinforced sometime in the distant past 2 pages with mends to lower margins otherwise text and plates very clean and quite free of foxing with scattered mostly minor offsetting from plates to text. Overall a very nice copy. Folio 40cm original sheep rebacked retaining spine and lettering piece; iv 42 pp. introductory the remaining text an unpaginated 520 pp 247 plates including 51 mostly full-page county and regional maps some with 2 images on the plate plans and including a large folding plate at rear a facsimile of the 1648 document indicting Charles II. 4-page subscriber list and 4-page index to the plates at rear. Plates many with multiple images on the plate include besides castles and various antiquities 3 each of English coins and seals. <br/><br/>The work was issued in 100 parts apparently in rather random sequence. Gatherings are unsigned throughout and in this volume part numbering ceases after part 70. However the instructions to the binder at the tail of the last index page makes suggestions for creating order and these have mostly been followed though the Cambridgshire map is found late in the volume opposite the "Description of Cambridge Castle" rather than opposite the descriptive text for the County in part 31. Maps are by Thomas Kitchin and first appeared in the London Magazine from 1747-1760 except the Yorkshire map which is by T. Conder 1784. See Whitaker: The Harold Whitaker Collection Leeds 1947 p53. According to Lowndes the plates are copied from Francis Grose Printed for Alex Hogg hardcover
176854703Leipzig Caspar Fritsch 1768. Contemp. full calf. 4 raised bands. Titlelabel with gilt lettering. A paperlabel pasted on lower part of spine. Wear to spine ends. Light wear along edges. 14346 pp. 1 large folded engraved map. Internally clean. <br/><br/><em>First German edition. </em> hardcover
178368272Edinburgh: Printed and Sold by all the Booksellers 1783. First Edition. 43 1 blank pp. Some minor foxing mainly to title-page. This pamphlet is bound at the end of the volume.<br> <br> This pamphlet representing Boswell's first foray into politics is rare at auction. There have been no copies of this first at auction since 1968. According to Pottle "The pamphlet seems to be rare; at least it appears in the catalogues of few large libraries. There are two copies in the British Museum one in the Harvard College Library and one in the New York Public Library."<br> <br> "This is the first of Boswell's " characteristical pamphlets" to bear his name on the title-page and it makes a new and important stage in Boswell's career his real reason for penning the pamphlet undoubtedly being that he saw a general election imminent and proposed to stand as parliamentary candidate for Ayrshire." Maggs 603-1953.<br> <br> ESTC T17200. Pottle 105/106.<br> <br> Bound together with<br> <br> DE LOLME John Lewis. Observations upon the National Embarrassment and the Proceedings in Parliament Relative to the Same. London Printed for J. Debrett 1789. 2 81 1 publisher's advertisement pp. Old ink note on title-page. "First published in 1789 as 'The present national embarrassment considered'". ESTC T185623<br> <br> And<br> <br> DUTENS M.L. Histoire De Se Qui S'est Passe Pour L'Establissement D'une Regence En Angleterre En 1788 et 1789. London Chez J. Walter 1791. Third Edition. iv 155 1 blank pp.<br> <br> And<br> <br> ANONYMOUS Serious Enquiries into the Motives and Consequences of Our Present Armament against Russia. London. J. Debrett 1791. 4 60 8 publisher's advertisements pp. With half-title and a folding chart.<br> <br> And<br> <br> ANONYMOUS Considerations on the Approach of War and the Conduct of His Majesty's Ministries. London. For J. Debrett 1791. 2 40 2 publisher's advertisements pp.<br> <br> And<br> <br> ANONYMOUS A Short Seasonable Hint addressed to the Landowers and Merchants of Great Britain on the Alarm of a War with Russia. London. For J. Debrett 1791. 38 2 publisher's advertisements pp.<br> <br> And<br> <br> Lettre D'un Habitant De Paris Au Baron d'E a L en Suisse Sur La Journee du 19 Juin 1790. 99 1 blank pp.<br> <br> Octavo 8 1/4 x 5 inches; 210 x 128 mm. All pamphlets bound together in contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Some occasional foxing but otherwise very clean. Previous owners old ink notes on front endpapers. A very good copy.<br> <br> HBS 68272.<br> <br> $5000. Printed and Sold by all the Booksellers unknown
1791ST20798London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. FIRST EDITION First State with "gve" reading on p. 135. 267 x 210 mm. 10 1/2 x 8 1/4". Two volumes expanded to eight. <br/> ORNATE AND SUBSTANTIAL 19TH CENTURY FOREST GREEN STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO covers with a gilt French fillet raised bands spines and some corners renewed with considerable skill their compartments with urn centerpieces flanked by scrolling foliage turn-ins gilt tooled marbled endpapers all edges gilt. First volume with an engraved frontispiece EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH A TOTAL OF 919 PLATES 96 of them hand colored. Each volume with an added facsimile title page. Pottle 79; Day "History of English Literature 1660-1837" pp. 164-65. Boards with a few dark spots mostly where chafing has been covered with dye the hinge at the front of seven volumes with paper covering gone two other hinges partly affected but everything still very tight; some never serious offsetting from plates intermittent minor foxing a handful of leaves in Vol I. Part IV with a repaired open tear to upper margin other trivial defects but still a set with very considerable appeal--full of visual interest internally and looking quite grand in a substantial row.<br/> <br/> Although there are no signs of ownership this is the elegantly bound Jacques Levy copy of what is often considered to be the greatest biography in any language--extra-illustrated here with an enormous number of plates. James Boswell 1740-95 was a personal friend of his subject the main reason that this work proved to be the architect of his enduring reputation. It is a tribute to Boswell's skill as a biographer that the bulk of the text is made up of accounts by the author of situations that he himself created so that his subject would be prompted to behave in a revealing and memorable way. Day tells us that Boswell "was a consummate impresario stage-managing the setting and 'dramatis personae' amidst which Johnson would glitter and then providing topics and opinions to elicit the magnificent rejoinders of Johnson." The result is that we see an unforgettable portrait of a man who was flawed as well as brilliant--in Day's words "the most fully realized figure the most three-dimensional character in literature." Our previous owner New York bibliophile Jacques Levy d. 1980 first began buying on a whim while in Paris for business. He spent the next 40 years building an impressive and eclectic library which included travel literature illustrated books and fine bindings. A dedicated auction of his collection took place at Sotheby's New York on April 20 2012 realizing more than $6 million. The present copy contains more than 900 added plates which illustrate the settings and figures populating the biography as well as expanding the two volumes into an imposing set that is quite attractive on the shelf. The first printing of Boswell's Johnson is easy to obtain but extra-illustrated sets seem to be quite rare: except for the present item which went for $11250 at the Levy sale the last such copy we could trace at auction was a four-volume set sold in 1988. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
179168052London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. JOHNSON Samuel. D. Comprehending an Account of His Studies and Numerous Works in Chronological Order; a Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition never before published. The whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain for near half a century during which he flourished. In two volumes. London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791.<br> <br> Full Description:<br> <br> BOSWELL James. The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. Comprehending an Account of His Studies and Numerous Works in Chronological Order; a Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition never before published. The whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain for near half a century during which he flourished. In two volumes. London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791.<br> <br> First edition first issue with "give" spelled "gve" in line 10 on p. 135 of Volume I and with all of the peculiarities cited by Pottle for the first issue including the several uncorrected errors listed for Volume II and the various cancels. Two quarto volumes 11 3/4 x 9 1/16 inches; 297 x 230 mm.; the same dimensions Pottle gives for 'an entirely uncut copy' . xii 16 516; 2 588 i.e. 586 pp. Engraved frontispiece portrait by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Volume I two engraved facsimile plates in Volume II. Bound without the front blank in Volume II.<br> <br> Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Neatly rebacked to style preserving the original gilt spine and burgundy and black morocco gilt lettering labels. A few minor marginal paper flaws not affecting text. Some rubbing to boards and light tip wear. Overall a fine set in the original binding and entirely uncut<br> <br> Courtney & Nichol Smith pp. 172-173. Grolier 100 English 65. Pottle 79. Rothschild 463-465. Sterling 71. Tinker 338.<br> <br> HBS 68052.<br> <br> $15000. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly unknown
