Books

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). Contemporary binding of green morocco by Rivi�re, 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. 54 plates, folding map at rear, illustrated title page, all by E. H. Shepard. Spine a touch sunned, gilt central tool to rear a little rubbed, small mark to rear free endpaper. A near-fine copy.

James Boswell's 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' is regarded as one of the greatest biographies written in the English language. It provides an in-depth and vivid recounting of the life of Samuel Johnson, a writer and critic who was a towering figure in 18th-century British literature.