BOSWELL James JOHNSON SamuelBiblio.com
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1887réf. 1249881887. JOHNSON Samuel BOSWELL James. Boswell's Life of Johnson includingÉ Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides and Johnson's Diary of a Journey into North Wales. Oxford: Clarendon 1887. Six volumes bound in eleven. Octavo contemporary full navy morocco gilt raised bands top edges gilt uncut. $11000.First George Birkbeck Hill edition of Boswell's Life of Johnson and Johnson's travels extra-illustrated with 1153 finely engraved portraits views maps and facsimiles including many proofs on India paper and facsimile of handwritten note by Hill tipped in. Handsomely bound in full morocco by Riviere & Son.Hill was a renowned Johnsonian scholar; when the Clarendon Press brought out this six-volume set in 1887 ""the edition was accepted as a masterpiece of spacious editing. The index forming the sixth volume is a monument of industry and completeness"" DNB. ""The fascination of Boswell and Johnson's dialogue that dialogue of mind heart and voice round which Boswell organized his great Life is that it is not merely between two very different men but between two epochs. In its pages Romantic Europe speaks to Renaissance Europe and is answered"" Wain 229. Due to the profusion of added plates portraits and facsimiles each of the five text volumes were divided into two volumes for a total of 11 volumes the index volume is not extra-illustrated. Interiors and added plates clean and fine. Volume I Part I and Volume III Part I expertly rebacked with original spine neatly laid down a few other joints slightly tender or with minor reinforcements bindings sound. A very handsome and lavishly extra-illustrated set in excellent condition. hardcover
1791réf. 31227London: 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. 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.” Only 1750 copies of the first edition were printed. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry hardcover
1791réf. 124524London: 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
1793réf. 685L2London: Henry Baldwin 1793. First edition. Fine Binding. Fine. 10.5" by 8". None. A finely bound copy of this very scarce work with manuscript corrections and additions to Boswell's 'Life of Johnson'. The first edition. With nine contemporary manuscript corrections in black in to references on pages 14-16 18 20 22-23 and 27. The manuscript corrections are very similar to those in the Malahide-Isham copy. The Malahide-Isham copy has had the ink annotations attributed to Boswell himself. The annotations to this copy are very similar to those and indeed match examples of Boswell's later hand in the British Library.Rebound in a fine Sangorski and Sutcliffe binding with their binder's stamp to the verso of front endpaper. With the signatures A1 B-F4 G1. This was Boswell's final lifetime publication and is very scarce. To this title Boswell analyses his first edition of Dr Johnson's life. This biography earned Boswell a great reputation as a biographer. As a great friend of Johnson he was a perfect candidate to write about his life. This biography is a landmark in the development of the genre. Presented as a list with page references to the left this forty-two page work explains the corrections and reasoning behind this. A very scarce beautifully bound copy of this work. In a crushed morocco binding with cloth covered boards. Externally excellent with minor shelfwear. Internally firmly bound. Pages are bright with occasional scattered spots to pages mostly to the first and last few pages. Fine Henry Baldwin unknown
1791réf. 2864London: NP 1791. First Edition. Letter. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE LETTER FROM JAMES BOSWELL TO CARETAKER ANDREW GIBB DATED "30 APRIL 1791" TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON. BOLDLY SIGNED WITH FULL SIGNATURE. Rarely at ease with himself James Boswell was famously a man of contradictions vacillating between different versions of his identity: Lecherous rake or doting husband Sophisticated Londoner or Scottish farmer Savvy businessman or indulgent landlord Rebellious rogue or obedient son If we were to put a pin on Boswell's most consistent character trait it may simply be 'contradictory.' In this letter written just two weeks before the publication of Life of Samuel Johnson we see these contradictions on display. The letter to Boswell's new estate manager Andrew Gibb offers a glimpse into Boswell's mind and affairs. On the one hand we see Boswell the provincial gentleman farmer concerned with the daily decisions of running Auchinleck his Scottish estate such as when he mentions "It will be very right to have the hayseed sold" and "let the bull calf be sold." At the same time despite his attempt to make financially savvy choices we are reminded of Boswell's well known kindness to his tenants as is seen here in his attempts to provide "some advantage to the tenants in the way of employment." But of course the managing of his ancestral home was not consistently a priority to Boswell. He pens the letter from London after all. And lest he manage to stay consistently professional and on task in his letter Boswell interrupts his own discussion of the management of Auchinleck with an angry declaration about a former tenant's offenses stating "I find Andrew Dalrymple behaves very ill. He must not be spared." Having followed his own disjointed stream of consciousness he returns to the financial affairs of the state without acknowledging his heated aside. What must Andrew Gibb have thought Even within this declaration about Andrew Dalrymple's supposedly terrible misdeeds we see contradictory behavior. In another letter to Gibb of the same year Boswell still furious about Dalrymple goes so far as to demand Gibb "let him be apprehended and imprisoned. I am very unwilling to proceed to extremities; but an example must be made in such a case." Yet apparently months later Dalrymple remained at large. One can imagine Andrew Gibb frequently laughing at his boss's bluster knowing it would likely come to nothing. Although brand new to his role Gibb would continue to serve James Boswell and his descendants as the caretaker to Auchinleck for the next forty-six years. In addition to being called upon to arrest unruly tenants he likely had enormous responsibilities given his boss's frequent absences from the estate as well as his infamously poor business savvy. Indeed at the time of this letter Boswell found himself in a precarious financial situation having taken large loans to purchase the neighborhing estate to Auchinleck. Yet we can forgive Boswell's emotional outburst. After all in addition to worrying about his potentially poor business decision and his badly behaved tenant in a few days his magnum opus Life of Samuel Johnson will be released to the world. It is admirable that he is attempting to manage his affairs from afar despite the overwhelming anticipation. He must have been preoccupied with both worry and excitement - will the public appreciate his work Will he succeed in memorializing his great mentor/friend Will the sales be sufficient to justify his audacious land purchases Is all of this haunting his thoughts as he pens this letter to Andrew Gibb To add to the energy and anxiety swirling around Boswell's life he notes in the letter that he has just moved to a new address in London on Great Portland Street his final move as he will die in London four years later in 1795. The letter grants us a snapshot into the mind of James Boswell during a wonderfully and terrifyingly anticipatory time in his life. It offers us a range of Boswell's contradictions-is he more Londoner or Scotsman Strict or lax landlord Serious estate owner or emotional writer It is delightful to imagine the frantic hand of James Boswell scribbling this letter attempting to stay focused on his faraway affairs while distracted by the expectations of the upcoming weeks. The letter reads in full: Great Portland Street observe I live here now & not in Queen Anne Street West 30 April 1791. Andrew. Your last letters have come safe. It will be very right to have the hayseed sold. From a letter from Mr. Grieve at Muir Kirk to Mr. Bruce Campbell I observe that the iron company has commissioned 1000 stone at 6d sixpence delivered there and will perhaps take 1000 more. You must therefore be very active in getting cart to take it to them at a penny a stone which will be some advantage to the tenants in the way of employment. I mentioned before that you must send me a bill for the price. Enclosed is a letter to Mr. Shaw which you will forward. I catchword on recto I find Andrew Dalrymple behaves very ill. He must not be spared. Let the bull calf be sold. I remain your wellwisher James Boswell. Hand-written letter in dark ink with strong and large full signature: "James Boswell." Great Portland Street London England: 30 April 1791. One page 186 mm x 227 mm 7.3" x 8.0 "; Mailing folds with some toning at folds. Contemporary ink smudges in lower margin. In excellent condition in a dark and legible text. Housed in a custom folder. SCARCE: We can only trace a handful of James Boswell letters that have ever been on the market. References: Moss Michael. The Duel between Sir Alexander Boswell and James Stuart: Scottish Squibs and Pistols at Dawn. United Kingdom Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2019. Turnbull Gordon. "Boswell James 1740-1795 lawyer diarist and biographer of Samuel Johnson." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. October 10 2019. Oxford University Press. NP unknown
1791réf. 124524London: 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 books
1791réf. 1704207Baldwin for Dilly 1791. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition first issue with "gve" for "give" on page 135 line 10 in what may be the incredibly scarce original boards. Two volumes quarto. Very good. Some soiling to pages of the second volume. Housed in a custom-made collector's slipcase. This copy has an extra full page frontispiece portrait of Boswell in the second volume not called for in the bibliographies. Baldwin, for Dilly hardcover books
1791réf. 68052London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. JOHNSON Samuel. D. 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. The whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain for near half a century during which he flourished. In two volumes. London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. Full Description: BOSWELL James. The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. 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. The whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain for near half a century during which he flourished. In two volumes. London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition first issue with "give" spelled "gve" in line 10 on p. 135 of Volume I and with all of the peculiarities cited by Pottle for the first issue including the several uncorrected errors listed for Volume II and the various cancels. Two quarto volumes 11 3/4 x 9 1/16 inches; 297 x 230 mm.; the same dimensions Pottle gives for 'an entirely uncut copy' . xii 16 516; 2 588 i.e. 586 pp. Engraved frontispiece portrait by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Volume I two engraved facsimile plates in Volume II. Bound without the front blank in Volume II. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Neatly rebacked to style preserving the original gilt spine and burgundy and black morocco gilt lettering labels. A few minor marginal paper flaws not affecting text. Some rubbing to boards and light tip wear. Overall a fine set in the original binding and entirely uncut Courtney & Nichol Smith pp. 172-173. Grolier 100 English 65. Pottle 79. Rothschild 463-465. Sterling 71. Tinker 338. HBS 68052. $15000. Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly unknown
1791réf. 120374London: 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 books
1791réf. 120374London: 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
1791réf. 68052"An Uncut Copy" BOSWELL James. The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. 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. The whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain for near half a century during which he flourished. In two volumes. London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition first issue with ìgiveî spelled ìgveî in line 10 on p. 135 of Volume I and with all of the peculiarities cited by Pottle for the first issue including the several uncorrected errors listed for Volume II and the various cancels. Two quarto volumes 11 3/4 x 9 1/16 inches; 297 x 230 mm.; the same dimensions Pottle gives for 'an entirely uncut copy' . xii 16 516; 2 588 i.e. 586 pp. Engraved frontispiece portrait by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Volume I two engraved facsimile plates in Volume II. Bound without the front blank in Volume II. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Neatly rebacked to style preserving the original gilt spine and burgundy and black morocco gilt lettering labels. A few minor marginal paper flaws not affecting text. Some rubbing to boards and light tip wear. Overall a fine set in the original binding and entirely uncut Courtney & Nichol Smith pp. 172-173. Grolier 100 English 65. Pottle 79. Rothschild 463-465. Sterling 71. Tinker 338. HBS 68052. $17500 Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly hardcover books
1791réf. 80005London: 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 contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua Reynolds 1756 painting. Volume one is the first state with the word "give" reading on page 135 line 10. First state of volume two with two engraved illustrations "The Round Robin" at p. 92 and the "facsimiles" of Dr. Johnson's handwriting on p. 588. In near fine condition with light toning 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 books
1791réf. 80005London: 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 contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson engraved by J. Heath after the Sir Joshua Reynolds 1756 painting. Volume one is the first state with the word “give” reading on page 135 line 10. First state of volume two with two engraved illustrations “The Round Robin” at p. 92 and the “facsimiles” of Dr. Johnson's handwriting on p. 588. In near fine condition with light toning 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
1805réf. 007260London: E. Jackson and G. Kearsley 1805. First Edition. Quarter Calf. Cloth slipcase. Very Good. Scarce hand-colored copy of work two parts bound in one. Oblong 27 by 34.5 cm. 20 hand-colored etched plates. The prints are inspired by Boswell's "Journal of a Tour in the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson" which originally appeared in 1785. Additional plates include an engraved portrait of Johnson by Thomas Trotter two hand-colored Cruikshank plates satirizing life in Scotland and the seven etched plates from "Outlines of the Opposition Collected from the Designs of the Most Capital Jacobin Artists" published by Hannah Humphrey in 1794 -- these plates are not colored. Binding heavily rubbed along edges with some chipping and loss of paper pastedown. Calf abraded. Title written in ink on front cover. The etched plate series with a fair amount of light foxing. E. Jackson and G. Kearsley unknown
1791réf. 10227London: printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. First edition first state 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. 4to 203 x 295 mm; untrimmed engraved portrait of Johnson by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds browned 2 engraved plates of facsimiles by H. Shepherd. An extraordinary copy in contemporary half calf and the original publisher’s boards and with the edges of the paper all uncut to the extent that it is an exceptional tall copy almost a large paper copy morocco spine labels. Hinges cracked scattered foxing a few trifling stains boards somewhat worn and fragile preserved in a brown cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. Booklabels of W. Strong 1p. ALS from J. Parsons to him laid in and ink signature of J. Robinson in Volume I. Accompanied by The London Chronicle No. 5414 for May 5 1791 which prints an advertisement for the book.W. Strong is addressed in the letter as Rev.d Archdeacon Strong – he has used the blank page of the letter to make notes on volume II of the book and has added some notes on the front pastedown and on another small sheet which is inserted loose. ‘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 Orators than Boswell is the first of Biographers. We are not sure that there is in the whole history of the human intellect so singular a phenomenon as this book. Many of the greatest men that ever lived have written biography; Boswell was one of the smallest men that ever lived and he has beaten them all’ Macaulay in the Edinburgh Review 1831 ap. Allibone. W. Jackson Bate Johnson's best modern biographer assessed Boswell's achievement in this way: ‘It was to be a new kind of biography - a life in Scenes as though it were a kind of drama. And when this life in Scenes did appear nothing comparable to it had existed. Nor has anything comparable been written since because that special union of talents opportunities and subject matter has never been duplicated. If there were writers who had Boswell's opportunities of knowing their subject as well they have not had his unusual combination of talents. If they had his talents they have lacked his opportunities. The talents include his gift for empathy and dramatic imitation his ability to draw people out and get them to talk freely his astonishing memory for conversations his zest and gusto his generous capacity for admiration and his sheer industry as a reporter - qualities that are by no means often found together. Whatever its limitations the work remains unique among all writings by one human being about another in the drama fidelity and range of interests in the conversation of one of the most fascinating individuals in history Samuel Johnson’ N. Y.: Harcourt Brace 1977 pp. 365-366. Adam 2:37. Courtney 172-173. Grolier English 65. Pottle 79. Rothschild 463-465. The greatest biography in the English language – a remarkable untrimmed copy in contemporary boards printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly hardcover
1791réf. ST20798London: Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. FIRST EDITION First State with "gve" reading on p. 135. 267 x 210 mm. 10 1/2 x 8 1/4". Two volumes expanded to eight. ORNATE AND SUBSTANTIAL 19TH CENTURY FOREST GREEN STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO covers with a gilt French fillet raised bands spines and some corners renewed with considerable skill their compartments with urn centerpieces flanked by scrolling foliage turn-ins gilt tooled marbled endpapers all edges gilt. First volume with an engraved frontispiece EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH A TOTAL OF 919 PLATES 96 of them hand colored. Each volume with an added facsimile title page. Pottle 79; Day "History of English Literature 1660-1837" pp. 164-65. Boards with a few dark spots mostly where chafing has been covered with dye the hinge at the front of seven volumes with paper covering gone two other hinges partly affected but everything still very tight; some never serious offsetting from plates intermittent minor foxing a handful of leaves in Vol I. Part IV with a repaired open tear to upper margin other trivial defects but still a set with very considerable appeal--full of visual interest internally and looking quite grand in a substantial row. Although there are no signs of ownership this is the elegantly bound Jacques Levy copy of what is often considered to be the greatest biography in any language--extra-illustrated here with an enormous number of plates. James Boswell 1740-95 was a personal friend of his subject the main reason that this work proved to be the architect of his enduring reputation. It is a tribute to Boswell's skill as a biographer that the bulk of the text is made up of accounts by the author of situations that he himself created so that his subject would be prompted to behave in a revealing and memorable way. Day tells us that Boswell "was a consummate impresario stage-managing the setting and 'dramatis personae' amidst which Johnson would glitter and then providing topics and opinions to elicit the magnificent rejoinders of Johnson." The result is that we see an unforgettable portrait of a man who was flawed as well as brilliant--in Day's words "the most fully realized figure the most three-dimensional character in literature." Our previous owner New York bibliophile Jacques Levy d. 1980 first began buying on a whim while in Paris for business. He spent the next 40 years building an impressive and eclectic library which included travel literature illustrated books and fine bindings. A dedicated auction of his collection took place at Sotheby's New York on April 20 2012 realizing more than $6 million. The present copy contains more than 900 added plates which illustrate the settings and figures populating the biography as well as expanding the two volumes into an imposing set that is quite attractive on the shelf. The first printing of Boswell's Johnson is easy to obtain but extra-illustrated sets seem to be quite rare: except for the present item which went for $11250 at the Levy sale the last such copy we could trace at auction was a four-volume set sold in 1988. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly unknown
1791réf. 022251London: 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
1791réf. 195532London: printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly 1791. One of Western literature's most germinal achievements" ODNB First edition first state uncut in the original boards of the most famous biography in any language. Boswell began the immense task of compiling the thousands of notes he had recorded on "the great man's talk habits and opinions" after Johnson's death in 1784. Made up of trifling incidents as well as the significant events in Johnson's life the work 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 misprints as called for by Pottle including the misprint "gve" for "give" on page 135 of the first volume. The misprint was corrected while the sheets were still going through the press and both states were available on publication day 16 May 1791. Of the 1750 copies printed 800 were sold in the first two weeks. 2 vols quarto. Portrait frontispiece engraved by James Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds 2 engraved facsimile plates by H. Shepherd. Text printed on pale blue paper. Uncut in original blue paper boards rebacked with parchment. Housed in a custom black cloth folding case. 1791 ownership signature of "D. Miller" to title page; bookplates of American collectors William Harris Arnold 1854-1923 Beverly Chew 1850-1924 and loosely inserted Stanley J. Seeger 1930-2011 and Christopher Cone b. 1955. Boards lightly worn at extremities rear board of vol. I with faint offsetting from a title page of Chambers's Cyclopaedia inner hinges cracked but firm occasional foxing to contents. A very good copy. Courtney 172; Grolier English 54; Rothschild 463; Pottle 79; Tinker 338. hardcover
1884réf. 192130London: George Bell and Sons 1884. With autograph letters signed by Johnson and Boswell The unique "Monograph Copy" extra-illustrated with numerous additional plates and an extensive collection of autograph material including autograph letters signed by both Boswell and Johnson. The remaining items derive from an illustrious group of figures within the Johnsonian milieu many of whom feature in Boswell's narratives. This fine set offers a window onto the world Johnson inhabited. Johnson's letter is dated 29 July 1779. He notifies his physician Dr Lawrence that he has been detained in the country and must postpone their meeting. Boswell's which is undated proposes a day to "eat mutton" with Henry Sampson Woodfall 1739-1805 editor and printer of the Public Advertiser which published Boswell's work. These are tipped into the front of volume I alongside two other autograph items. The remaining volumes likewise contain autograph material from different individuals tipped into their fronts together with illuminated plates noting that the Société des Bibliophiles of New York specially bound and extra-illustrated the set. Correspondence from those with whom Johnson was personally and often closely acquainted includes social and professional letters from figures such as Hannah More 1745-1833 Richard Cumberland 1732-1811 Joseph Warton 1722-1800 and Samuel Parr 1747-1825. There is also a legal document signed by Johnson's defender Lord Thurlow 1731-1806. The collection also includes a receipt signed by John Horne Tooke 1736-1812 for a volume of his Diversions of Purley 1786 a philological work that publicly rivalled Johnson's Dictionary. This copy is number 39 of 104 sets. A full inventory of the autograph material is available on request. 15 vols large octavo 237 x 162 mm. Engraved frontispieces many plates with tissue guards. Contemporary brown-green morocco spines lettered in gilt compartments elaborately decorated with foliate design boards panelled in elaborate gilt light brown morocco onlay roundels gilt inner dentelles red morocco doublures with gilt fillets and green morocco onlay frame with gilt roll cream moiré silk flyleaves edges gilt white bookmarkers. Paper repair to autograph material. Spines uniformly sunned else a fine set. hardcover
