The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Comprehending an Account of his Studies and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order...

BOSWELL, James.

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Comprehending an Account of his Studies and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order...

London: Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry , 1791.

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"the most celebrated biography in the English language": Rare First Edition, First Issue of Boswell's The Life of Johnson

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 1,750 copies. First issue with "gve" for "give" at line 10 of p.135 in Vol. I, where MM4 and NN1 are cancels. Vol. I with Pottle's misprints: upon repeated at p. 48; "reollection" at p. 115; "exhihited" at p. 117; "condescente" at p. 275; and "Harvey" at p. 291 following the spelling "Hervey". Vol. II with title page (blank on reverse) and p. 586 incorrectly numbered 588, as well as all other misnumberings given by Pottle, and the five noted cancels. Quarto, bound in full polished calf, rebacked, gilt ruling and lettering to spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait of Johnson by J. Heath after Joshua Reynolds, 2 engraved plates, all edges marbled. In very good condition. Armorial bookplate to each pastedown. 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).