BOSWELL, JamesBiblio.com
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1768Best.-Nr. 154271Glasgow: by Robert and Andrew Foulis for Edward and Charles Dilly in the Poultry London 1768. Establishing Boswell's fame and advancing the Corsican cause First edition of Boswell's first important publication an account of his travels to Corsica in 1765 where he took up the cause of Corsican independence and befriended the leader Paoli. The publication established Boswell's reputation and did much to promote the Corsican cause both in Britain and across Europe. "With its reports of the gallant islanders and a Plutarchan depiction of Paoli paralleled with several classical heroes it was an immediate success. The work was widely read and translated stimulated great interest in Paoli and the Corsican cause brought its author wide fame in Britain and Europe and found an interested readership among the Americans. It attracted the notice of the French government which had a translation made and though Boswell's ambition for British intervention was not to be fulfilled he probably influenced Britain's decision to send secret supplies of arms to the Corsicans" ODNB. Octavo 205 x 129 mm. Large engraved folding map of Corsica second state with imprint; engraved rococo title vignette incorporating the Moor's Head arms of Corsica. Early 20th-century calf to style red morocco labels gilt in compartments plain endpapers. Bound without terminal blank. Ownership signature to title page dated 1771 early 20th-century bookplate to front pastedown of T. H. Parnell Mounton. Binding fine light toning to endpapers head of central leaves half-title and terminal leaf short closed tear to folding map in gutter scattered light foxing. A very good copy. ESTC T26157; Gaskell Foulis 473; Pottle 24; Rothschild 442. unknown
1768Best.-Nr. 6073Glasgow: Edward and Charles Dilly 1768. First Edition First State. First Edition First State. 8vo 195 x 125 mm. Attracdtive 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 books
1859Best.-Nr. 208973New York: Derby & Jackson 1859. New Edition. Hardcover. All 4 volumes Very Good in boards. Rubbing along panel edges. Foxing throughout beginning and ends of each volumes' texts. Derby & Jackson hardcover
Best.-Nr. 000051London 1835. First Edition thus - 3/4 red morocco marbled endpapers. Engraved frontis/title page 8vo. 10 volumes. A lovely set bound in 3/4 red morocco spines with raised bands gold ornaments and letteringt.e.g. A few hinges tender but otherwise a beautiful set. London, 1835. hardcover
1819Best.-Nr. 273419London: Printed for the Proprietors 1819. hardcover. near fine. 4 volumes. Extra illustrated with many portraits views and facsimiles some folding done in mezzotints copper engravings and some in sepia. Small 8vo 3/4 burgundy morocco ornately gilt spines top edges gilt cover on one volume faded. London: Printed for the Proprietors 1819. Near Fine. Printed for the Proprietors unknown
1819Best.-Nr. 273419London: Printed for the Proprietors 1819. hardcover. near fine. 4 volumes. Extra illustrated with many portraits views and facsimiles some folding done in mezzotints copper engravings and some in sepia. Small 8vo 3/4 burgundy morocco ornately gilt spines top edges gilt cover on one volume faded. London: Printed for the Proprietors 1819. Near Fine. Printed for the Proprietors unknown books
1928Best.-Nr. 39James Boswell's natural and open style is hardly matched in the history of English. Sam Johnsons's biography is his masterpiece; In his lifetime however he published many other books and memoirs and they are still a delight to read. In the 1920s a renewed interest in Boswell was generated with the discovery of his private papers in Malahide Castle north of Dublin. This discovery by a wealthy American collector Ralph Isham and then the publication of them in a limited delux edition designed by the American icon of book design the typograher Bruce Rogers is a story in itself and often told. Rogers used a Baskerville font. The printing is and clean bold and deep on the fine handmade paper of the text. Baskerville type evoked the time said Rogers. The volume has many reproductions of the leaves from Boswell's the journals. Using a modified aquatone Rogers and Rudge were able to print ultra-detailed plates of the original documents from photos and at least as important to print them on the toothed handmade paper of the text itself previously not feasable. Adding to the prints on the handmade Maidstone paper of the text each volume has at least one tipped in facsimile leaf folded as orig and printed on a separate period paper. Indeed if the original leaf is missing a segment so does the replica leaf. On at least two there are replica wax seals attached. This series is a now an iconic example of American twentieth fine presswork. Rogers's requirements and the quality of the Rudge printing and binding operation made this set very expensive to produce and to buy. And then the depression happened. The eighteen volume set was issued in 1928 and ending in 1934: the project began in the Roarin Twenties and ended in the heart of the Great Depression with disasterous financial consequences. The price tag per vol was nearly $1000 adjusted so $18000 for the subscription. Subscriptions dried up as the depression worsened and many existing subscribers bailed by some means or another. This 18vol set is one of many with pristine later vols. and opened earlier vols. Attributed to buyer faitigue or personal factors it is aso the case that Rogers and Rudge made sets from the many remaining copies at the project's finish. PHOTOS: portrait of Boswell from "A New Portrait"; Landscape by Boswell printed in first vol.; Portrait of Zelda and various inserted facsimile leaves as examples of reproduction. companion volumes. This set inludes the three companion usually inluded with the original 18 to complete the set Index to the Papers of James Boswell NY & London 1837 600 printed for subscribers Catalogue of the Papers of James Boswell Pottle and Pottle London and New York 1931 415 copies printed by Rudge Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides NY 1936 with prospectus: the manuscript was put into print too late for thr Roger's printing. uniformly bound and boxed copy 383/490 other items. A new Portrait of James Boswell Tinker and Pottle Cambridge 1927 17 pgs with a fine cored frts. and 9 additional plates on a fine printing designed by Rogers makes pair with the similarly bound and produced Johnson Meddallion The Wedgewood Medallion of Samuel Johnson Tinker Cambridge 1926 385 copies designed by Rogers with a beautiful frts. and 7 additional plates Magnificant Obsession Auchincloss NY The Typophiles a fine printing itsel with a detaied account of the printing of the Private Papers red paper wraps fine Ephemera found in vol 4 a newspaper clipping of Isham's obituary and a reminder to return slip from the Yale Club Library the aftermath Yale purchased all of Boswell's papers. The papers were extensively edited and accompanied with notes and thery first volume "The London Journal" was published in a trade editioan in 1950. It was best seller and its sales and popularity held thruoughout the following 12 volumes. Boswell's easy manner and canid personal and sexual reflections seemed revelatory. Besides this he was obsessed with royalty and all top tier celebrties of his time and it all ended up in the diaries. On his deathbead the agnostic Hume told Boswell he feared death not the least - to which Johnson replied it was a lie. He recounts his affair with Rousseau's mistress. Hume Voltaire RiedHis Private Papers turned out to be a fraught project for the fortunes of Ralph Isham but the discovery and contents opened a fresh window on his time and its figures and introduced a fresh way of thinking about biography and history. condition; The "other items" are fine. In the "Companion Volumes" the volumes are very good to fine The slipcases are worn and that of of the Index is bumped and has minor seperation splitting. The Journal and is slipcase are very good. The 18vol Isham Set: Volumes 9 to 18 are uncut. Save occasional sunning the are near fine. Volumes 7 & 8 some sunning o/w very good. Vols 1 to six are all very good to fine. The slipcases had begun to seperate and were spot reglued but all original and range from fair to good to fine. a binder would note that the famed Edith Diehl was managing the Rudge bindery at this time she being the premier American binder at the time. The first six volumes have full paper covered cases i.e.covers and full paper covered slipcases as well. Beginning with vol.7 there is a change to a thin linen cloth spine strip with the boards retaining the papersides. The slipcases remained paper only. It's possible the ill-judged decision to have paper hinges had already shown breakage in well read early volumes. No damage in this set. More uniform dimensions are also introduced. The volumes are perfectly constructed to open freely and securely. If in another universe these volumes had been covered in a strong linen cloth they could be enjoyed on the subway today! Slipcases are a different matter. These are assembled from three edges and two sides of thin board glued at the joins. Full thin paper covers are alone not up the job of securing these pieces for centuries. still this set has a very good appearance overall. William Edwin Rudge hardcover
1791Best.-Nr. 56179London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition. Two volumes. First issue with "gve" p.135:10 in first volume as well as all the misprints cancels and stubs as called for Pottle 79. Quarto 4to early full-leather bindings sympathetically recased with new gilt-stamped spines and early mottled calf covers laid down; frontispiece engraved portrait of Johnson after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Volume I and two engraved plates in Volume II as called for. Text block apparently trimmed on all edges plates and opposing pages foxed most significantly on frontis and title page of Volume I pictured otherwise both volumes quite clean with only scattered foxing. Housed together in custom cloth-covered chemise and half-morocco slipcase with matching cloth sides showing only light wear. BOSWELL'S JOHNSON THE MOST CELEBRATED BIOGRAPHY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
1791Best.-Nr. 86766London: 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
1793Best.-Nr. 9032052London: 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. Printed by Henry Baldwin hardcover
1793Best.-Nr. 9032052London: 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. Printed by Henry Baldwin hardcover books
1934Best.-Nr. 5757London: Oxford University at The Clarendon Press 1934. First Edition Thus. Volumes I through IV measure approximately 9" x 6" while the fifth book in the set measures approximately 8.25" x 5.5". These volumes are in very good condition.Gilt lettering on the spines are bright and well preserved. Minor surface wear and staining to the cloth boards. Tour of Hebrides is dedicated to Robert Adam - who was the son of the famous Johnsonian book collector Robert Borthwick Adam. The book is signed by Robert Adam to his son and is also signed by the editor Robert William Chapman on the half-title page: "to the friend whose help made this edition possible". Volume I of Boswell's Life of Johnson comes with a signed letter from Lawrence Fitzroy Powell who was the Samuel Johnson scholar that revised the present work. The letter is signed to R. B. Adam thanking him for his contributions to the four volume collection in the acknowledgment section. Volume IV has a signed letter from Oxford Clarendon Press laid in that is addressed to R. B. Adam. Please view the many other rare titles available for purchase at our store. We are always interested in purchasing individual or collections of fine books. Oxford University at The Clarendon Press unknown
1928Best.-Nr. 822071928. BOSWELL James. Private Papers of James Boswell from Malahide Castle. In the Collection of Lt-Colonel Ralph Heyward Isham. Mount Vernon New York: William Edwin Rudge 1928-1934. Complete set in 18 volumes laid in invitation to a lecture by Isham and Frederick Pottle 1940 in volume I. WITH: PROSPECTUS. For the edition New York: William Rudge 1928. String bound folio of 9 unnumbered leaves 4 laid-in sample title pages and subscriber's form in the original card folder. WITH: CATALOGUE. POTTLE Frederick A. POTTLE Marion S. The Private Papers of James Boswell. A Catalogue. London and New York: Oxford University Press 1931. WITH: BOSWELL James. Boswell's Journal of A Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson LL.D. New York: The Viking Press and London: William Heinemann 1936. Prospectus laid in. WITH: INDEX. Index to the Private Papers of James Boswell London and New York: Oxford University Press 1937. 22 vols. plus prospectus. Folio quarto and octavo extensively illustrated with facsimiles of the manuscripts. Bookplates of Robert Wayne Sitwell and Brian Douglas Sitwell on front pastedowns in all volumes spines lightly sunned else a fully untrimmed very good or better set in original cloth-backed red paper-covered boards printed paper labels on spines publisher's slipcases also with printed paper labels. First editions. The 18 volume set is limited to 570 copies this being numbered copy 536; the catalogue is limited to 415 unnumbered copies; the Tour to the Hebrides is limited to 790 copies this being numbered copy 238; the index is limited to 1250 unnumbered copies. Rogers Paragraphs on Printing p. 72 ref.; The Work of Bruce Rogers p. 370; Stark Books Designed by Bruce Rogers p. 10. The collection of Boswell's papers long thought destroyed were rediscovered in various homes in Ireland and Scotland and were reluctantly sold to Isham in 1928 by Lord Talbot his wife one of Boswell's great-granddaughters. After his great acquisition Isham negotiated a deal with William Edwin Rudge to print the collection as a set for subscribers. Bruce Rogers was assigned the task of designing the format and produced a set of volumes that are "magnificent examples of the arts of the printed book. They are surely the most impressive single monument of the Rudge/Rogers association." Blume. unknown
1791Best.-Nr. 1948234Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1791 1791. Hardcover. Used-Very Good. Early full calf rebacked preserving original spines. Some wear to binding but nicely restored and preserved. First edition second state with give corected at p. 135. Engraved portrait in vol. I; two engraved plates in volume II. Text is clean and clear with wide margins. No bookplates or other ownership markings. A very sound and attractive copy. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly in the Poultry, 1791 hardcover
1791Best.-Nr. 15878London: 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
1791Best.-Nr. 15878London: 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 books
1768Best.-Nr. 31228Glasgow: By Robert and Andrew Foulis for Edward and Charles Dilly In the Poultry. 1768. Rare First Edition First State of James Boswell's first important book. A copy with excellent provenance the Rokeby Park John Bacon Sawrey Morritt original bookplate is present as well as the bookplate of Giannalisa Feltrinelli. This copy also in Rothschild's first state with the words "John Home" incorrectly placed following the first quotation on p. 51; E2 and Z3 are cancels with "Mariani" spelled correctly line 24 p. 357. The additional misprints cited by Pottle are also present: "141" for "241" in the table of contents; broken "E" in "Etruscans" on p. 70 line 17; "feelirg" on p. 137 line 11; "tha the" on p. 172 line 9; "Montgomer˙" on p. 184 line 4; "speculati-ions" on p. 327 lines 9-10. Pages 93 and 296 are correctly printed the last words of line 6 p.93 are "prince of" and of line 18 p.296 "of my own". "Illustrated with a new and accurate map of Corsica." This being an exceptionally well detailed and attractive large folding engraved map bound at the front. With half-title which is frequently lacking title-page with engraved vignette featuring the arms of Corsica. 8vo 205 x 120 mm. in full contemporary calf the spine with simple gilt ruled raised bands one compartment with brown morocco label gilt lettered the boards framed with gilt double-rules board edges hatched in blind xxiii 384pp. A fine copy of the text especially fresh and clean a strong impression unpressed and very sturdy and tight a bit of offset on the final leaf and half-title and a bit from the map to the titlepage the binding handsome and firm but with a bit of minor wear or rubbing along the tips and shoulders. The folding map is in a fine state of preservation unusually so. THE FIRST PRINTING OF BOSWELL'S FIRST SIGNIFICANT WORK ONE WHICH WOULD HELP LAUNCH HIS FAME AS ONE OF THE FINEST MEN OF LETTERS OF HIS AGE. This first edition was an immediate success and sold out within six weeks. Boswell supported the Corsican struggle to become an independent nation and considered himself one of the island's chief sponsors. "Following the island's invasion by France in 1768 Boswell attempted to raise public awareness and rally support for the Corsicans. He sent arms and money to the Corsican fighters and made an arduous and dangerous journey to Corsica to meet General Pasquale Paoli leader of the insurgents seeking the island's independence from the Genoese. Paoli at first suspected Boswell was a spy but quickly came to like his improbable young visitor saw an opportunity for promotion of the Corsican cause in Britain and consented to a series of interviews" - Pierce The text includes Boswell's keen observations on many topics including military matters and arms commerce government and religion. It also includes many accounts of his own experiences. Boswell was rightfully very proud of this work. Within his lifetime it went through many many editions. Within just a short time of its original appearance it had been translated into Dutch Italian German and French; and sold as well abroad as it did in Britain. It was in fact a most remarkable success and the first step towards one of the most distinguished literary careers of the age. Concerning the provenance Rokeby Park is well known as the original English home in the painting "The Toilet of Venus" by Diego Velázquez. The painting is now referred to as The Rokeby Venus". It now hangs in the National Gallery London and a copy hangs in the saloon at Rokeby Park. Sir Walter Scott was a regular visitor to the house and he used it as the setting for his narrative poem Rokeby in 1812. The building is also of interest in its own right. Completed in 1735 and known at the time as Rokeby Hall by Sir Thomas Robinson it is considered a fine example of the Italianate Palladian style. Robinson owned it until 1769 when he sold it to J.S. Morritt whose bookplate adorns the initial pastedown. The magnificent library of Giannalisa Feltrinelli was sold in 1997 at auction. This fine example was selected for one of the most important libraries in Europe. By Robert and Andrew Foulis for Edward and Charles Dilly In the Poultry. hardcover
1937Best.-Nr. 301136New York: William Edwin Rudge; The Viking Press 1937. One of 570 numbered copies this being no. 252 designed by Bruce Rogers. Numerous aquatone facsimiles of original manuscripts by Boswell. 20 vols. 4to and Folio. Red boards printed spine labels. very good plus set in original boxes some sunning to box spines box to vol. 4 with a few splits. One of 570 numbered copies this being no. 252 designed by Bruce Rogers. Numerous aquatone facsimiles of original manuscripts by Boswell. 20 vols. 4to and Folio. This set was designed by Bruce Rogers in the last of his eight years at William Rudge's plant. The acquisition of the papers by Isham is itself a terrific story. Suffice it to say that in 1928 the collection was reluctantly sold by a Lord Talbot and his wife one of Boswell's great-granddaughters to Lt. Col. Isham long after they had been presumed destroyed and then discovered in various remote cabinets and chests in Ireland and Scotland. After his great acquisition Isham wanted a sumptuous format for the collection and negotiated a deal with William Edwin Rudge. Bruce Rogers was assigned the task of designing the format and produced a set of volumes that are "magnificent examples of the arts of the printed book. They are surely the most impressive single monument of the Rudge/Rogers association." Blumenthal pp. 104-5. James Van Alen had provided the financial backing that made possible the purchase of the Boswell papers; "without Van Alen's backing and continuing forbearance Isham could never have completed his private edition let alone tackled the acquisition of the Fettercairn papers and the later finds at Malahide . without Van Alen the scattered archives of James Boswell would probably never have been fully reassembled" David Buchanan The Treasure of Auchinleck. The Story of the Boswell Papers. New York: McGraw-Hill 1974. [William Edwin Rudge; The Viking Press] unknown
1822Best.-Nr. 21333London: Printed for T. Cadell; F.C. And J. Rivington; Longman Hurst Rees Orme and Brown; Baldwin Cradock and Joy; et al 1822. Book. Near Fine. Full Leather in Box. Ninth Edition Revised and Augmented. Octavo. 4 Volumes. Pp. 36 441; 462; 446; 495. Unique edition extra illustrated with relevant engravings from various sources tissue-uarded frontispiece in each volume 200 illustrations in all includes 18 mostly hand-coloured plates and 2 folding facsimiles all inserted at appropriate spots. Full russet coloured smooth calf gilt stamped illustration of Johnson in the upper corners of both front and rear covers with gilt facsimile signature in the bottom corners triple ruled 5 raised bands ornate gilt to spine panels leather spine labels top edge gilt others deckled gilt dentelles marbled endpapers. Bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe London. Volume 1 has a bit of staining to the leather of the rear panel otherwise all volumes are in near fine condition all individually housed in very good linen clamshell boxes with gilt-stamped leather spines. A near fine unique set. Printed for T. Cadell; F.C. And J. Rivington; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy; et al Hardcover
1937Best.-Nr. 301136New York: William Edwin Rudge; The Viking Press 1937. One of 570 numbered copies this being no. 252 designed by Bruce Rogers. Numerous aquatone facsimiles of original manuscripts by Boswell. 20 vols. 4to and Folio. Red boards printed spine labels. very good plus set in original boxes some sunning to box spines box to vol. 4 with a few splits. One of 570 numbered copies this being no. 252 designed by Bruce Rogers. Numerous aquatone facsimiles of original manuscripts by Boswell. 20 vols. 4to and Folio. This set was designed by Bruce Rogers in the last of his eight years at William Rudge's plant. The acquisition of the papers by Isham is itself a terrific story. Suffice it to say that in 1928 the collection was reluctantly sold by a Lord Talbot and his wife one of Boswell's great-granddaughters to Lt. Col. Isham long after they had been presumed destroyed and then discovered in various remote cabinets and chests in Ireland and Scotland. After his great acquisition Isham wanted a sumptuous format for the collection and negotiated a deal with William Edwin Rudge. Bruce Rogers was assigned the task of designing the format and produced a set of volumes that are "magnificent examples of the arts of the printed book. They are surely the most impressive single monument of the Rudge/Rogers association." Blumenthal pp. 104-5. James Van Alen had provided the financial backing that made possible the purchase of the Boswell papers; "without Van Alen's backing and continuing forbearance Isham could never have completed his private edition let alone tackled the acquisition of the Fettercairn papers and the later finds at Malahide . without Van Alen the scattered archives of James Boswell would probably never have been fully reassembled" David Buchanan The Treasure of Auchinleck. The Story of the Boswell Papers. New York: McGraw-Hill 1974. [William Edwin Rudge; The Viking Press] unknown books
1791Best.-Nr. 6914London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First Edition First Printing. Rebound in Full Leather. First edition first printing with "gve" for "give" on page 135. Measuring approximately 10.75" x 9" with 516 & 588 numbered pages. Finely bound in full leather with marbled endsheets. Housed in a custom cloth slipcase. These volumes are in very good condition. Moderate darkening and cracking to the leather on the spines. Moderate wear to the board edges. Frontispiece in volume one is offered in facsimile. Several scattered instances of marginalia from a previous owner. Samuel Johnson 1709–1784 was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet playwright essayist moralist literary critic sermonist biographer editor and lexicographer. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography calls him "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history" Please view the many other rare titles available for purchase at our store. We are always interested in purchasing individual or collections of fine books. Inventory # P1-98. Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
1791Best.-Nr. 6074London: 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 ìgiveî 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
1791Best.-Nr. 6074London: 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 ìgiveî 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 books
1785Best.-Nr. 352072London: Printed for Charles Dilly in the Poultry 1785. First edition. Half-titles present 4 107 1 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Sewn untrimmed. Some light soiling to half-titles Benjamin Vaughn's signature to the half-title; in custom half-morocco box and chemise. First edition. Half-titles present 4 107 1 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Boswell's second Letter to the People of Scotland written to oppose a bill in Parliament for reducing the number of the Lords of Session from fifteen to ten was notable for ''its exuberance of tone and the wealth of personal allusion'' - although in later years Boswell felt that it was perhaps too extravagant Pottle. Ultimately the bill was dropped. This copy bears the ownership signature of radical politician Benjamin Vaughan 1751-1835. Vaughan was a supporter of the French and American Revolutions and unofficially aided in negotiations between Britain and the United States at the drafting of the Treaty of Paris. A friend of Benjamin Franklin's since university days he later edited his works. ESTC 6223856; Rothschild 455; Pottle 56 Printed for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry unknown
1791Best.-Nr. 303654London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition "gve" uncorrected at line 10 on p. 135 in vol. I and with the usual cancels Mm4 and Nn1 in vol. I E3 Oo4 Qq3 in vol. II. Engraved portrait by J. Heath after Joshua Reynolds 2 other engraved plates. xii 16 516; 2 588 i.e. 586 pp. 2 vols. 4to. Old calf a.e.g. Neatly rebacked with gilt spines in period style. Bookplates of Nicholas Frederic Brady. Near fine occasional light traces of foxing. First edition "gve" uncorrected at line 10 on p. 135 in vol. I and with the usual cancels Mm4 and Nn1 in vol. I E3 Oo4 Qq3 in vol. II. Engraved portrait by J. Heath after Joshua Reynolds 2 other engraved plates. xii 16 516; 2 588 i.e. 586 pp. 2 vols. 4to. Pottle 79; Rothschild 463; Grolier English 131 Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
