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BOSWELL, James (1740-1795). The Life of Samuel Johnson. London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1791.
2 volumes, 4o (295 x 230 mm). Engraved portrait of Johnson by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2 engraved plates of facsimiles by H. Shepherd. (Title in vol. I and conjugate A4 reinforced at fold, internal tear crossing text on Zz2 in first vol., some occasional spotting, few minor marginal repairs.) Original white paper-backed blue-grey paper boards, remains of original paper labels, ENTIRELY UNCUT (recased, with minor repair to spine, while preserving the original endpapers, some wear); quarter morocco folding cases by Riviere. Provenance: purchased from Scribner Rare Books, New York, 3 September 1969.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with "gve" on line 10, p. 35 in volume one and the initial blank in volume two; Mm4, Nn1 (volume 1), E3, Oo4, Qq3, Zz1 and Eee2 (volume 2) are cancels. 1,750 copies of the first edition were printed.
"Homer is not the more decidedly the first of heroic poets, Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of the dramatists, Demosthenes is not more sensibly the first or orators, than Boswell is the first of biographers" (Macaulay). Boswell's great work was published 16 May 1791 and achieved immediate critical acclaim. It has not been out of print since. Grolier English 65; Rothschild 463; Tinker 338. A VERY FINE COPY IN THE ORIGINAL BOARDS. (2)
2 volumes, 4o (295 x 230 mm). Engraved portrait of Johnson by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2 engraved plates of facsimiles by H. Shepherd. (Title in vol. I and conjugate A4 reinforced at fold, internal tear crossing text on Zz2 in first vol., some occasional spotting, few minor marginal repairs.) Original white paper-backed blue-grey paper boards, remains of original paper labels, ENTIRELY UNCUT (recased, with minor repair to spine, while preserving the original endpapers, some wear); quarter morocco folding cases by Riviere. Provenance: purchased from Scribner Rare Books, New York, 3 September 1969.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with "gve" on line 10, p. 35 in volume one and the initial blank in volume two; Mm4, Nn1 (volume 1), E3, Oo4, Qq3, Zz1 and Eee2 (volume 2) are cancels. 1,750 copies of the first edition were printed.
"Homer is not the more decidedly the first of heroic poets, Shakespeare is not more decidedly the first of the dramatists, Demosthenes is not more sensibly the first or orators, than Boswell is the first of biographers" (Macaulay). Boswell's great work was published 16 May 1791 and achieved immediate critical acclaim. It has not been out of print since. Grolier English 65; Rothschild 463; Tinker 338. A VERY FINE COPY IN THE ORIGINAL BOARDS. (2)