Description: Greatest biography ever written1793 Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson This is the complete 3-volume set of James Boswell's intimate memoir of Dr. Samuel Johnson and is generally considered to be the finest biography ever written. It was published in London, England in 1793, just 2 years after the first edition (1,750 copies) came off the press. It has been in print continuously ever since. The books are complete and appear to be in their original bindings, now 230 years old. They are bound with marbled boards and leather spines. All 3 labels are intact. Boards are well worn and are showing their age. The front board of volume 1 is detached but all others remain securely attached to their binding. As expected, the inside pages are toned from age and some pages, especially the prelims, are speckled with foxing, notably near the extremities. The front inside cover of volume 1 has two faded owner's signatures from 1879 and 1899. Volumes 2 and 3 are free from any inscriptions. There is no other writing or inscriptions or bookplates anywhere in the 3 volumes. Nor are there any library or institutional markings or stamps in these volumes. There is no sign of any insect damage, water damage or unpleasant odors. Volume 1 has the usual engraved plate of Dr. Johnson opposite the title page. This is followed by the dedication to Joshua Reynolds, Advertisement to the First Edition, and the 23-page Alphabetical Table of Contents (actually an index). The volume also has a bibliography plus pages of Corrections and Additional Corrections at the rear. Volume 2 contains the folding "Round Robin" plate securely bound into the text block. Volume 3 contains the folding facsimile handwriting plate also securely bound into the textblock. Each book measures about 8.5 x 5.5 inches (21 x 13 x 5 cm), All our books are double wrapped in bubblewrap and packed in a sturdy cardboard carton to ensure their safety on the trip to your home or business.
Price: 795 CAD
Location: Surrey, British Columbia
End Time: 2024-11-18T19:44:11.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A CAD
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Item Specifics
Returns Accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Binding: Leather
Place of Publication: London
Language: English
Signed: No
Publisher: James Boswell
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Topic: Classics
Subject: Biography & Autobiography
Year Printed: 1793
Original/Facsimile: Original