Details
BOSWELL, James (1740-1795). The Life of Samuel Johnson. London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1791.
2 volumes, 4° (272 x 207mm). Vols.I & II with seven cancels. Stipple-engraved portrait frontispiece by J.Heath after Reynolds with tissue guard, two engraved plates. (Vol.II without front blank, 'round-robin' plate with the instruction to the binder shaved with very slight loss, the plate of facsimiles with light old dampstaining.) Contemporary tree calf, spines gilt with red and green morocco lettering-pieces (neat repairs to joints and spines, the upper joints slightly split). Modern cloth slipcases. Provenance: Mrs. E. Phillips (18th-century signature, pencilled note, vol.I p.37: 'Then Dr.Johnson found no human Understanding equal to what he had found in Female form. Blush blush ye Male Tyrants! increasing education, will make you do more.')
FIRST EDITION OF BOSWELL'S MASTERPIECE AND PERHAPS THE GREATEST BIOGRAPHY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, with 'give' reading in vol.I but without the rare front blank in vol.II. Rothschild 463. (2)
2 volumes, 4° (272 x 207mm). Vols.I & II with seven cancels. Stipple-engraved portrait frontispiece by J.Heath after Reynolds with tissue guard, two engraved plates. (Vol.II without front blank, 'round-robin' plate with the instruction to the binder shaved with very slight loss, the plate of facsimiles with light old dampstaining.) Contemporary tree calf, spines gilt with red and green morocco lettering-pieces (neat repairs to joints and spines, the upper joints slightly split). Modern cloth slipcases. Provenance: Mrs. E. Phillips (18th-century signature, pencilled note, vol.I p.37: 'Then Dr.Johnson found no human Understanding equal to what he had found in Female form. Blush blush ye Male Tyrants! increasing education, will make you do more.')
FIRST EDITION OF BOSWELL'S MASTERPIECE AND PERHAPS THE GREATEST BIOGRAPHY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, with 'give' reading in vol.I but without the rare front blank in vol.II. Rothschild 463. (2)