Boswell (James)Biblio.com
148 résultats
179186766London: By Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition. Hardcover. Some foxing and toning repair to front hinge of vol.II some ink ownership markings to title-pages; rebacked some wear to covers. No jacket. Stipple-engraved portrait by Heath after Reynolds 2 engraved plates of facsimiles. First edition first issue with "gve" on page 135 line 10 of volume I. 2 vols. 4to. Contemporary half calf rebacked in later calf with some matching recornering. Boswell's renowned sometimes hagiographical portrayal of Dr Samuel Johnson the great lexicographer moralist and wit of the 18th century. It is often considered one of the greatest biographies ever written in the English language. By Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly hardcover
179333744London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1793. 3 volumes. First Octavo Edition revised and augmented by Boswell with the corrections cancels and misprints. This copy also with the "Additions received after the Second Edition was printed" pp. i-xxii "A Chronological Catalogue of the Prose Works of Samuel Johnson LL.D" which is the first attempt at a Johnson bibliography pp. xxiii- xxxi and thirteen letters to Bennet Langton and one to the Earl of Bute. Most of this material was issued here for the first time and was not in the first edition quarto. Engraved portrait frontispiece after the painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Also with the folding ‘Round Robin’ plate and a folding plate of with a facsimile of Dr. Johnson's handwriting. 8vo handsomely bound to style the bindings of three-quarter tan calf over marbled paper covered boards the spines gilt decorated and gilt lettered within compartments separated by raised bands. portrait titlexviii ixvii-xxxii xxxix Alphabetical Table of Contents xxxiii-xxxvi 603; 634; 711 pp. A fine and handsome copy well preserved the bindings in very pleasing condition with only very slight mellowing at the spine panels tight and strong with virtually no wear the text-blocks crisp clean and unpressed. IMPORTANT PRINTING OF THE FIRST OCTAVO EDITION IN HANDSOME BINDING. The first 8vo edition of what is perhaps the greatest biography ever written in the English language. The "chronological catalogue of the prose works of Samuel Johnson" appears in this edition for the first time. This set with the alphabetical table of contents before the text rather than at the end of volume 3 as is often the case and with the scarce leaves of corrections and additions following the contents.<br> Celebrated for its intimacy and vividness Boswell's Life of Johnson "is one of the best books in the world. It is assuredly a great very great work. Homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic Poets--Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of Dramatists--Demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of Orators than Boswell is the first of Biographers." Macauley in the Edinburgh Review 1831. Boswell learned a great deal about the art of biography from his subject and brought to his task boundless curiosity persistence and zest.<br> Boswell had been collecting material for this work since his first interview with Johnson in 1763 and was confident that his kind of biography "which gives not only a History of Johnson's visible progress through the world and of his publications but a view of his mind in his letters and conversations is the most perfect that can be conceived and will be more of a Life than any work that has ever yet appeared. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly hardcover
179131227London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1791. 2 volumes. First Edition First Issue with 'gve' on p.135 of the first volume; Mm4 and Nn1 in Volume I and E3 Qq3 and Eee2 in Volume II are cancels as called for. With round robin plate signatures page portrait frontispiece. 4to 275 x 210 mm. full contemporary mottled calf the spines with raised bands separating the compartments the bands ruled in gilt two compartments with terra-cotta-red morocco lettering labels gilt the covers with double gilt fillet rules at the borders gilt tooled edges original endleaves. xii 16 516; 588 pp. A handsome and fine set with the bindings in excellent condition sometime expertly and very sympathetically renewed at the spines to style. A very pleasing set quite clean and crisp throughout. IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION FIRST STATE IN PLEASING CONDITION. Celebrated for its intimacy and vividness Boswell's Life of Johnson "is one of the best books in the world. It is assuredly a great very great work. Homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic Poets--Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of Dramatists--Demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of Orators than Boswell is the first of Biographers." Macauley in the Edinburgh Review 1831. Boswell learned a great deal about the art of biography from his subject and brought to his task boundless curiosity persistence and zest.<br> Boswell had been collecting material for this work since his first interview with Johnson in 1763 and was confident that his kind of biography "which gives not only a History of Johnson's visible progress through the world and of his publications but a view of his mind in his letters and conversations is the most perfect that can be conceived and will be more of a Life than any work that has ever yet appeared." He said too that: “A sanction to my faculty of giving a just representation of Dr. Johnson I could not conceal. Nor will I suppress my satisfaction in the consciousness that by recording so considerable a portion of the wit and wisdom of the brightest ornament of the eigteenth century I have largely provided for the instruction and entertainment of mankind.†If Boswell does indulge in a little harmless flattery to himself the concluding words of his preface are literally true for Boswell’s Johnson as much as any other book “has largely provided for the instruction and entertainment of mankind.â€<br> Only 1750 copies of the first edition were printed. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry hardcover
17917195London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1791. First Edition. Full Leather. Very Good. Two volumes. 4to. Pp. xii 16 3-516; 1 2-588 2. Engraved portrait frontis. after Sir Joshua Reynolds in the first volume. Second volume illustrated with two plates of Dr. Johnson's handwriting in facsimile. Marbled endpapers. Full speckled calf with gilt filigree borders and inner dentelles rebacked in period style; repaired corners. Two bookplates: "The High Canon's Library" and "Malo Mori Quam Foedari" possibly the plate of Cardinal Henry Edward Manning. Interiors quite nice. First edition first state with "gve" in lieu of "give" on p.135 of Vol. I.<p>Boswell's achievement was not to simply capture the brilliance and wit of his subject but to provide through meticulous scholarship the complexities of Johnson amid the literary realm of his era.<p>Provenance: Sold at the 1922 Sotheby's sale of The Valuable Library . of the Late Baroness Burdett Coutts. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry unknown
1791007319London: Charles Dilly. Printer: Henry Baldwin 1791. Half Morocco. Paper pastedown on boards. Custom cloth slipcase custom cloth dust jacket. Near Fine. 4to. 28.5 by 23 cm. Frontis portrait of Johnson after Reynolds painting engraved by J. Heath. Title Dedication to Reynolds -- vii Table of Contents unpaginated with Corrections and Additions 16 1-516 second title Advertisement -- pagination to xii 1-588 pp. followed by Facsimles of Johnson's hand writing plate. Round Robin plate also present -- Vol. 2 by p. 92. First issue -- "gve in second indented quote line p. 135. Condition: morocco of bindings with some wear -- typical rubbing along joints some along raised bands. Interior: scattered mostly light foxing generally by upper and lower margins or early and final leaves and here and there elsewhere but overall a clean-ish copy and few would find such soiling disconcerting we believe. A very handsome copy of this classic seminal and really sui generis biogaphy of the great Dr. Johnson that more than simply a recounting of his life captures his personality and originality. And a work in which Dr. Johnson can entertain us more than two centuries later almost as if we were present as he was holding forth. Charles Dilly. Printer: Henry Baldwin unknown
179121183381791. London: Henry Baldwin. 1791. Two vols 4to. Rebound full calf; raised bands to spines ruled in gilt spines lettered and ornamented in gilt; speckled edges; marbled endpapers; pp. I: xii xvi 516; II: iv 588; engraved frontispiece in vol. I of Johnson by J. Heath after Joshua Reynolds; with two facsimile plates one showing Johnson's handwriting; minimal rubbing to hinges of spines; internally clean; a very good set. First edition second issue with the 'give' printed on p. 135.Widely praised since its publication Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson provides an entertaining in-depth account of Johnson based on material kept in Boswell's diaries. Extensive in both size and subject this work provides intricate details about arguably one of the most important literary figures of the eighteenth century.Boswell's biography is a meticulously detailed account of Johnson's life beginning with his early years and tracing his journey through the intellectual and literary circles of the time. It explores Johnson's upbringing his struggles with poverty and his remarkable literary achievements. Boswell's narrative is peppered with direct quotations from Johnson and their conversations allowing readers to not only understand Johnson's life but to hear his unique voice and wit. The work provides a glimpse into Johnson's relationships with other notable figures of his time including the likes of Joshua Reynolds and Edmund Burke further enriching the historical and cultural context of the narrative.This work offers valuable insights into eighteenth-century England its intellectual and social life and the burgeoning literary scene giving readers a deeper understanding of the historical context in which Johnson lived and worked. Additionally Boswell's approach to biography which combines personal observation interviews and correspondence has had a profound influence on the way biographies are written becoming a standard practice in the genre. It also serves as a historical and cultural document offering a window into eighteenth-century England the emergence of modern literary criticism and the challenges faced by writers of the time. This work continues to be a cornerstone in the world of biography and literature and its cultural significance endures through the ages and without it our contemporary understanding of the character of Johnson would be far less detailed.ESTC T64481 hardcover
17914147<p>London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791 and 1793. "The Life": first edition. Two Volumes. 4to 272x210mm. pp. xii 16 516: 2 588 i.e. 586; 2 1-42. In volume I duplicates of pp153-56 and pp. 157-60 are bound between pp146-47 and pp150-51 respectively but it is complete. The scarce "Corrections and Additions" are bound in at the end of volume II. Engraved frontispiece portrait by J. Heath from Reynolds's portrait. Two plates with facsimiles of Johnson's handwriting in volume II between pp92-3 and after final page. "give" is correctly spelt at line 10 of p135 of volume I but other misprints usually attributed to the first issue are uncorrected so this is a mixed first and second issue. However the better i.e. Pottle's view is that the misprints or corrections simply reflect the states for individual sheets and one cannot from these assert an issue priority for any copy as a whole. The folding map of Scotland from the Tour of the Hebrides has been bound into volume I. Front pastedown of both volumes has book labels of James Mill London not that Mill sadly B. and M. Leslie and the ownership inscription of J. Innes. Bound in contemporary speckled calf flat spine with black morocco label lettered in gilt joints strengthened. Some slight scratching to the covers. Housed in brown cloth covered box with a little rubbing and scuffing to the extremities. Internally there is a little foxing in places but otherwise this is a very good copy of perhaps the most celebrated biography in English. Macaulay famously described Boswell as "the first of biographers" pre-eminent in his field as Homer Shakespeare and Demosthenes are in theirs. Indeed. That Johnson his own works so rarely read now has such a vivid place in our minds is due entirely to this brilliant work.</p> London: Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly 1791 and 1793. hardcover
179366491London: printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1793. First London octavo third edition overall following the first of 1791 and the Dublin octavo of 1792; 3 volumes pp. 2 xviii xvii-xxxix 1 i-xxxvi 2 603 1; 2 634; 2 711 1; frontispiece portrait folding "Round Robin" plate folding facsimile of Johnson's handwriting; original blue paper-covered boards roan shelfbacks titles printed in black on spines mostly rubbed away on volumes I and II; spines rubbed and worn with chips out at the tops and bottoms joints cracked; good copy at best but uncommon in original boards uncut. This copy has the extra leaf c3 in volume one with "additional corrections" and all the misprints identified by Rothschild with the exception that page 408 of volume three is printed incorrectly. "The text of the second edition . deserves a close study. Although we believe that the third represents the form in which Boswell would ultimately have arranged the supplementary material we can never be sure of it for this edition was the last actually published in his lifetime. There were also many pleasant and characteristic sentences introduced in this edition which naturally dropped out when the text was shaken together by Malone." Pottle 81. Rothschild 468. printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry unknown
17936215London: Henry Baldwin 1793. First edition. Near Fine. First issue with "gve" for "give" in the uncorrected state line 10 on p. 135 in Volume I and all of the errata uncorrected. Two quarto volumes 10 3/4 x 8 7/16 inches; 274 x 216 mm. vii 1 blank ix-xii 16 "Table of Contents" and "Corrections and Additions" 516; 2 588 i.e. 586 pp. Engraved frontispiece by James Heath from a portrait of Johnson by Sir Joshua Reynolds in Volume I two engraved facsimile plates in Volume II. "Round Robin." facing p. 92 and "Fac Similes of Dr. Johnson's hand writing" facing p. 588. Together with at the end of volume II: BOSWELL James. The Principal Corrections and Additions to the first edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson. London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1793. Title verso blank 42 pp. Bound by Rivière & Son ca. 1910 in full mottled calf covers with triple gilt rules. Spines with five raised bands decoratively tooled in gilt in compartments red and brown morocco labels lettered in gilt gilt ruled board edges decorative gilt turn-ins marbled end-papers all edges gilt. Expertly rebacked and corners strengthened over fifty years ago with original spines laid down. Occasional light foxing or staining to a few leaves otherwise a fine copy of the first issue with the exceptionally rare Principal Corrections and Additions bound in at the end of volume two.<br /> <br /> "Boswell is the first of biographers. He has no second. He has distanced all his competitors so decidedly that it is not worth while to place them" Macauley. Indeed drawing on his close and longstanding collaboration with Johnson as well as Johnson's own diary James Boswell released a book that was a popular success and helped to establish the modern genre of biography. Still considered an important resource on the life and times of the famed memoirist and dictionary compiler Boswell's Life of Johnson breathes vivid life into one of the most important British figures of the century. "We know of him not as he was known to men of his generation but as he was known to men whose fathers he might have been.and long after his works may be forgotten he will be remembered through Boswell's Life" Macauley. This was Boswell's last publication before his death in 1795. "The work The Principal Corrections and Additions is now difficult to obtain; when it turns up it is almost invariably bound in with a copy of the first edition of the Life" Pottle. <br /> <br /> Regarding the "gve" or "give" question: "gve" is the earlier state. "The first proof shows the word correctly spelled but the lines are punctuated as follows: "Short O short! then be thy reign And give us to the world again." Boswell passed this in the proof but in the revise both proof and revise are in the possession of Mr. Adam he directed the printer to remove the exclamation point in the first line and substitute it for the first period at the end of the second which is in fact the punctuation of the printed text. When the changes were made the "I" dropped out and the printer not noticing what had happened filled up the line by inserting a space between "gve" and "us". After a considerable part of the edition had been printed the error was discovered and corrected in the press" Pottle. The correct first issue as here reads: "Short O short then be thy reign And gve us to the world again!" Near Fine.<br /> <br /> Courtney & Nichol Smith pp. 172-3. Grolier 100 English 65. Pottle 79 & 113. Rothschild 464 & 466. Sterling 71. Tinker 338. Near Fine. Henry Baldwin unknown
179115878London: Henry Baldwin For Charles Dilly 1791. First edition Second State. Leather bound. Near fine. The first edition second state of The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. by James Boswell printed in London in 1791. Quarto two volumes vii 1 516pp; xii 16pp Table of Contents 588pp. Full period calf title in gilt on spine over red morocco labels. Both spines laid down over new calf text block resewn. Modern brown endpapers in Volume II. Complete with frontispiece portrait of Johnson by James Heath after Joshua Reynolds and two engraved plates "Round Robin" and "Facsimiles" by H. Shepherd. No half titles as issued. Free of notable foxing solid text blocks. This work is the first edition second state with the following points in Volume I: "give" rather than "gve" on page 135 line 10; "upon" repeated on page 48 line 8 up from bottom; "exhihited" page 117 line 2 from bottom; "condescente" page 175 line 2 up from bottom; "Harvey" page 291 line 9 from bottom. Volume II: mis-numbered pages include 229 408 497 504 555 585 and 586; uncorrected points which were changed in later states include "painted for "printed" page 78 line 23; "MDCCLXXXIV" vs. "MDCCLXXIV" page 92 line 6. Pottle 79 Rothschild 463 A beautiful example of Boswell's monumental work. Henry Baldwin, For Charles Dilly unknown
17939032052London: Printed by Henry Baldwin 1793. 2nd. Hardcover. Very Good. Second edition revised and augmented." Subtitle reads "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." Beautifully bound in leather with spines stamped in gilt leather labels stamped in gilt and covers blind-stamped with rules. The whole set is in remarkable condition. Text blocks are clean and bright with sharp corners bindings have only the most minimal wear to extremities. Gorgeous. 5 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches. 1948 total pages. <br/><br/> Printed by Henry Baldwin hardcover
17912506006Henry Baldwin 1791. first. hardcover. very good. First edition first issue. Two volumes leather. Engraved portrait frontis after Sir Joshua Reynolds in the first volume. Second volume illustrated with two plates of Dr. Johnson's handwriting in facsimile. Both volumes in very good condition minor foxing to pages some rubbing to edges. Housed in custom-made slipcase with insert very good. Henry Baldwin unknown
1791150970London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in The Poultry 1791. First edition first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language which was published on May 16 1791 in a print run of only 1750 copies. First issue with "gve" for "give" at line 10 of p.135 in Vol. I where MM4 and NN1 are cancels. Vol. I with Pottle's misprints: upon repeated at p. 48; "reollection" at p. 115; "exhihited" at p. 117; "condescente" at p. 275; and "Harvey" at p. 291 following the spelling "Hervey". Vol. II with title page blank on reverse and p. 586 incorrectly numbered 588 as well as all other misnumberings given by Pottle and the five noted cancels. Quarto bound in full polished calf rebacked gilt ruling and lettering to spine gilt ruling to the front and rear panels marbled endpapers stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait of Johnson by J. Heath after Joshua Reynolds 2 engraved plates all edges marbled. In very good condition. Armorial bookplate to each pastedown. An excellent example of this landmark work. “Boswell excelled in insight into human nature and in ability to dramatize a situation… It was a crucial part of Boswell’s magic to give significance and vitality to the apparently trivial; it is this trait together with his notable accuracy and unparalleled completeness of portraiture that made him… ‘the Shakespeare of biographers†Baugh et al. 1065-66. "One of Western literature's most germinal achievements: unprecedented in its time in its depth of research and its extensive use of private correspondence and recorded conversation." Gordon Turnbull Oxford DNB. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry unknown
17931410258London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1793. Second edition revised and augmented. Hardcover. Octavo Three volumes xxxix 603 pages; 634 pages; 711 pages. In Good plus condition. Spines are brown with gold print on black banners. Boards in brown leather; light wear to spine caps and corners. Text block of first volume has clipping adhered to front pastedown along with note in ink. Illustrated: engraved frontispiece portrait by Joshua Reynolds two folded plates facsimiles.<br /> <br /> Oversized books. Additional postage necessary for expedited/international orders. Economy International shipping unavailable due to size/weight restrictions. For international/expedited customers please inquire for rates.<br /> <br /> NOTE: Shelved in Locked Annex Area Multi-volume Section. 1410258. FP New Rockville Stock. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly hardcover
1791120374London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in The Poultry 1791. First edition first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language which was published on May 16 1791 in a print run of only 1750 copies. Quarto bound in full morocco by Birdsall gilt titles and tooling to the spine raised bands inner dentelles all edges gilt. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua Reynolds 1756 painting. Housed in a custom clamshell box. In fine condition. An excellent example of this landmark work. “Boswell excelled in insight into human nature and in ability to dramatize a situation… It was a crucial part of Boswell’s magic to give significance and vitality to the apparently trivial; it is this trait together with his notable accuracy and unparalleled completeness of portraiture that made him… ‘the Shakespeare of biographers†Baugh et al. 1065-66. "One of Western literature's most germinal achievements: unprecedented in its time in its depth of research and its extensive use of private correspondence and recorded conversation." Gordon Turnbull Oxford DNB. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry hardcover
1798WB18306London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1798. Hardcover. Very Good. Three volumes. First octavo edition. First edition was 1791; Dublin octavo followed in 1792 so this is in essence the third edition overall. Contemporary brown calf professionally rebacked. Ex libris Anne Davies with her old book label. Smaller modern bookseller label of Henry Southern. <br/><br/> Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry hardcover
1791124524London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in The Poultry 1791. First edition first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language which was published on May 16 1791 in a print run of only 1750 copies. Quarto bound in full calf gilt titles to the spine morocco spine labels. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua Reynolds 1756 painting. In very good condition. An excellent example of this landmark work. “Boswell excelled in insight into human nature and in ability to dramatize a situation… It was a crucial part of Boswell’s magic to give significance and vitality to the apparently trivial; it is this trait together with his notable accuracy and unparalleled completeness of portraiture that made him… ‘the Shakespeare of biographers†Baugh et al. 1065-66. "One of Western literature's most germinal achievements: unprecedented in its time in its depth of research and its extensive use of private correspondence and recorded conversation." Gordon Turnbull Oxford DNB. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry unknown
1791022251London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly. Full leather with elegant gilt decorations within the compartments on the spine. First Edition First Issue with "gve" on p. 135. Provenance: On the title pages of both volumes is: P W Baker Ranston 1793. The signer was Peter William Baker a man of cultivated tastes who purchased Ranston House at Iwerne Courtney Dorset. The books were probably inherited by his son Sir Edward Baker Littlehales who rose through the military ranks to become secretary to Lord Cornwallis and wrote about a trip to Detroit in the United States but no evidence reflects that although small bookplates have been removed from inside the front cover. Inside the cover of both volumes can be found the armorial bookplates of Sir Edward Baker the son of Sir Edward Baker Littlehales. Most recently the books were purchased from the library of notable book collector Sydney Ross. Boswells Johnson has often been called the finest biography in the English language. Very Good. . Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1791. Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly hardcover
1792R11GLTBRN102Dublin: John Chambers 1792. Hardbacks full calf gilt title to spine labels. Recent replacement spines in calf. 3 volume set. xxxiv 536pp; 605pp; 573pp. Complete with 'Round Robin' and handwriting facsimile plates. 2nd edition 1792. Previous owners' library labels to front pastedown in all three vols. Previous owner's written details and repair to all three title pages. Occasional foxing/soiling to contents but generally clean. A pleasing set. A heavy set additional postage may be required for orders outside the UK. r11. 2nd Edition. Hard Cover. Good . John Chambers Hardcover
1793000012718London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1793. First edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 2 vol. 4to. 3 iv-xii 17 2-516; 3 2-588 586 4 2-42 pp. Contemporary calf with the spines in six compartments recent black morocco labels lettered in gold on the spines gold tooling on the spines. Volume one illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Johnson a stipple-engraving by James Heath volume two with two plates the "Round Robin" plate and the facsimile of Johnson's handwriting. Completing the title page: "with 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". Grolier Club 100 Famous Books in English Literature 65. Oxford DNB Gordon Turnbull "Boswell James 1740–1795". Pottle 79. Rothschild 463. Our copy has the second state point in volume one with the word "give" spelled correctly on page 135. A contemporary bookplate on each front pastedown. Boswell's historical and literary magnum opus: arguably the most famous biography in English literature. Many have praised Boswell for his reconstruction of the larger-than-life character of Samuel Johnson. Johnson's personality shines through the letters and journal entries included in these volumes. Samuel Johnson of course is best-remembered for his revised English Dictionary done after Nathan Bailey's first pass at an English-language dictionary. Johnson's dictionary stands out as one of wit full of pithy entries reflective of his life experience and skilfull command of the English language. A handsome set of Boswell's story of Samuel Johnson a work that has been celebrated throughout the ages as a turning-point in biography remembrance and as a revolution in the characterization of a historical person. Recently and sympathetically rebacked a few corners subtly renewed. The title pages and the final plate has a neat repair. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry hardcover
1791163220London: by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. One of Western literature's most germinal achievements First edition of the greatest biography in the English language. It was published in a run of 1750 copies on 16 May 1791 the 28th anniversary of Boswell's first meeting with Johnson. The immense task of compiling the thousands of notes Boswell had recorded on "the great man's talk habits and opinions" was begun after Johnson's death in 1784. Made up of trifling incidents as well as the significant events in Johnson's life the work sold 800 copies in the first two weeks of publication and remains a masterpiece of portraiture. "The Life of Johnson was no single book miraculously produced by an inexperienced author. It was the crowning achievement of an artist who for more than twenty-five years had been deliberately disciplining himself for such a task" Pottle p. xxi. "Homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic poets Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of dramatists Demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of orators than Boswell is the first of biographers" Macaulay. This copy has all the usual cancels and with one exception all the misprints as called for by Pottle; here vol. I p. 135 is in the second corrected state with "give" on line ten. Pottle rightly observes that "the booksellers have given this rather uninteresting 'point' more attention than it deserves. There are probably varying states of some of the other leaves" p. 151. As corrections were made in the press the misprints are variant states for individual sheets and do not indicate priority of issue for any copy. 2 vols quarto 273 x 192 mm. Stipple-engraved portrait frontispiece of Johnson by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds and 2 engraved plates by H. Shepherd reproducing manuscripts in facsimile. Vol. II bound without original first blank. Mid 20th-century speckled calf to style for Brentano's smooth spines with two red labels central compartments stamped with gilt urn device within decorative border first and final compartments with gilt cross-hatch pattern triple gilt fillets on covers enclosing wide anthemion roll board edges and turn-ins decorated in gilt green endpapers edges gilt. Couple of scuffs and spots of rubbing to leather scattered light foxing to contents; vol. I p. 48 with neat correction to text by an early reader pp. 131-4 soiled; vol. II with tiny faint splash mark to title page margin. A very good copy attractively bound. Courtney 172; ESTC T64481; Grolier English 100 54; NCBEL II p. 1214; Pottle 79; Rothschild 463; Tinker 338. hardcover
1791BOSWELLJ002721Charles Dilly London. 1791. First edition; second state with ''give'' at line 10 page 135. Quarto. Two volumes: pp xii xv table of contents i corrections and additions 516; ii 588. Frontispiece portrait engraving after Reynolds two engraved facsimile plates at end of second volume. Fine nineteenth century bindings by Zaehnsdorf of full dark brown morocco with raised bands gilt decoration inner dentelles gilt silk endpapers all edges gilt. Highly professional almost invisible repairs to spines with backstrips relaid retaining the endpapers.Spines and front cover of second volume faintly faded. Some spotting to frontispiece. Faded ownership signature dated 1846 on title-page. Near fine set. Charles Dilly, London. hardcover
179353381London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1793. First London octavo third edition overall following the first of 1791 and the Dublin octavo of 1792; 3 volumes pp. 2 xviii i-xxxvi 2xvii-xxxix 1 603 1; 2 634; 2 711 1; frontispiece portrait folding "Round Robin" plate folding facsimile of Johnson's handwriting; contemporary calf-backed marbled boards red leather labels on spines black numbering pieces that on vol. II a little chipped; in all a good sound set or better unrestored; in a recent brown cloth slipcase. This copy has the extra leaf c3 in volume one with "additional corrections" and all the misprints identified by Rothschild with the exception that page 408 of volume three is printed incorrectly. Bookplates of Lord Rendelsham in each volume. "The text of the second edition . deserves a close study. Although we believe that the third represents the form in which Boswell would ultimately have arranged the supplementary material we can never be sure of it for this edition was the last actually published in his lifetime. There were also many pleasant and characteristic sentences introduced in this edition which naturally dropped out when the text was shaken together by Malone" Pottle 81. Rothschild 468. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
179153375London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition the so-called second state with "give" reading on p. 135 in vol. I 2 volumes 4to pp. xii 16 516; 2 588; engraved portrait frontispiece by Heath after Joshua Reynolds and with the Round Robin plate and the plate showing facsimile signatures of Johnson; nice copy in contemporary full calf neatly and pleasingly rebacked sometime in the 20th century preserving the old red and black morocco labels on spine; all the standard cancels are present per Pottle. Regarding the "give" versus "gve" reading Pottle notes that the "booksellers have given this rather uninteresting 'point' more attention than it deserves." Celebrated for its intimacy and vividness Boswell's Life of Johnson "is one of the best books in the world. It is assuredly a great very great work. Homer is not more decidedly the first of the heroic poets Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of the dramatists Demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of the orators than Boswell is the first of biographers" Macaulay. Grolier English 100 no. 65; Rothschild 463; Pottle 79. Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
