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Samuel Johnson, 1767
Details
The Idler, a presentation copy
Samuel Johnson, 1767
JOHNSON, Samuel (1709-1784). The Idler. London: printed for T. Davies, J. Newbury, and T. Payne, 1767.
Presentation copy, inscribed by Johnson: “To dear Miss Eccles from the Authour,” on the verso of title in volume one. "Miss Eccles" may well be the daughter of one "Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman," who appears in The Life as attending the first important dinner hosted by Boswell for Johnson. Boswell wrote: "I had as my guests this evening [Wednesday, 6 July 1763] at the Mitre tavern, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Thomas Davies, Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman, for whose agreeable company I was obliged to Mr. Davies, and the Reverend Mr. John Ogilvie, who was desirous of being in company with my illustrious friend, while I, in my turn, was proud to have the honour of shewing one of my countrymen upon what easy terms Johnson permitted me to live with him…" If the present copy is inscribed to a daughter of Mr Eccles, then it serves as a unique record of that inaugural literary dinner that occurred less than two months after Boswell and Johnson met for the first time. Inscribed presentation copies of The Idler are rare; RBH records only one other copy in the past fifty years. It was from the Prescott Collection and inscribed to the wife of William Strahan. In 2000 a copy from the library of William Foyle given by Johnson to Esther Burney was sold, however the inscription was in Burney's hand. This third edition of The Idler included additional essays comprising Johnson’s “Essay on Epitaphs,” "Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope,” and “Bravery of the English Common Soldiers.” Courtney & Smith pp. 83-84.
Two volumes, 12mo (170 x 95mm). (A little minor soiling to vol. 2 title page.) Contemporary calf, red morocco spine labels (rebacked retaining original labels, corners renewed). Custom full morocco clamshell box. Provenance: Miss Eccles (authorial inscription) - William Rees-Mogg, Esq. (his sale, Sotheby’s New York, 8 & 9 March 1971, lot 247).
Samuel Johnson, 1767
JOHNSON, Samuel (1709-1784). The Idler. London: printed for T. Davies, J. Newbury, and T. Payne, 1767.
Presentation copy, inscribed by Johnson: “To dear Miss Eccles from the Authour,” on the verso of title in volume one. "Miss Eccles" may well be the daughter of one "Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman," who appears in The Life as attending the first important dinner hosted by Boswell for Johnson. Boswell wrote: "I had as my guests this evening [Wednesday, 6 July 1763] at the Mitre tavern, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Thomas Davies, Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman, for whose agreeable company I was obliged to Mr. Davies, and the Reverend Mr. John Ogilvie, who was desirous of being in company with my illustrious friend, while I, in my turn, was proud to have the honour of shewing one of my countrymen upon what easy terms Johnson permitted me to live with him…" If the present copy is inscribed to a daughter of Mr Eccles, then it serves as a unique record of that inaugural literary dinner that occurred less than two months after Boswell and Johnson met for the first time. Inscribed presentation copies of The Idler are rare; RBH records only one other copy in the past fifty years. It was from the Prescott Collection and inscribed to the wife of William Strahan. In 2000 a copy from the library of William Foyle given by Johnson to Esther Burney was sold, however the inscription was in Burney's hand. This third edition of The Idler included additional essays comprising Johnson’s “Essay on Epitaphs,” "Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope,” and “Bravery of the English Common Soldiers.” Courtney & Smith pp. 83-84.
Two volumes, 12mo (170 x 95mm). (A little minor soiling to vol. 2 title page.) Contemporary calf, red morocco spine labels (rebacked retaining original labels, corners renewed). Custom full morocco clamshell box. Provenance: Miss Eccles (authorial inscription) - William Rees-Mogg, Esq. (his sale, Sotheby’s New York, 8 & 9 March 1971, lot 247).
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