Boswell

1930 · réf. 169940 — London: G. Bell and Sons 1930. A beautiful "Kelliegram"-style binding First edition first impression of Shepard's profusely illustrated edition. Everybody's Boswell was the second in a series of three popular abridgements of historical works; the immediate success of Everybody's Pepys in 1926 led to this version of Boswell which was followed by Everybody's Lamb in 1933. All were illustrated by Shepard with rich attention to period detail. This copy with its elaborate pictorial onlay is decorated in the "Kelliegram" style one of the many innovations of the English commercial binding firm Kelly & Sons. The Kelly family's bindery was an established part of the London trade. It was founded in 1770 by John Kellie as the name was then spelled and carried on by successive family members into the 1930s. Octavo 190 x 124 mm. 54 plates folding map at rear illustrated title page all by E. H. Shepard. Contemporary binding of green morocco by Rivière spine decorated and lettered in gilt in compartments gilt decorative frames to covers enclosing multicolour onlay morocco illustration to front cover gilt central tool to rear gilt turn-ins marbled endpapers edges gilt. Housed in a custom green cloth slipcase. Spine a touch sunned gilt central tool to rear a little rubbed small mark to rear free endpaper. A near-fine copy. hardcover