The LIFE Of SAMUEL JOHNSON Comprehending an Account of His Studies and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order... In Two Volumes.

Item Details

London, Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry, 1791

1st edition, 1st issue (Grolier 100 ENGLISH, #65; Pottle 79). 2 volumes: xii, [16], 516, [2 (blank)]; [4], 586, [2], 42 pp. Vol II, p 585 misnumbered 587; 586 as 588. Other mispaginations [see Pottle]. Vol I, p. 135 with 'gve'. Volume I with stipple-engraved frontis of Johnson, by James Heath, after the 1756 painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Vol II with two engraved facsimiles [bound in per Pottle]. 4to. Vol I: 2M4 & 2N1 cancels. Vol II: 5 cancelled leaves, as per Pottle. 11-1/4" x 8-3/4". Period full marbled calf bindings, with later respining to style. Marbled eps. Yellow edge stain. Modest binding wear. Two bookplates [one of James Bonar, Scottish lawyer ?] to front paste-down. Occasional spot of foxing. Withal, a handsome VG+ set.

Volume II bound with the uncommon 1793 pamphlet of corrections stemming from Boswell's fussiness... "So bad were these errors, indeed, that it was found necessary to issue a small quarto volume of forty-two pages to correct them." [Grolier 100, #65].

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