Books

London: Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, 1791. JOHNSON, Samuel. 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…

Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. is a biography of Dr. Samuel Johnson written by James Boswell. It is regarded as an important stage in the development of the modern genre of biography and has been described as the greatest biography written in English.