Books

Two beautifully bound volumes of this famous adventure work. Robinson Crusoe is presented to the reader as an autobiography of Robinson, a castaway who spends thirty years on a remote tropical island. The works discusses his encounters with cannibals, captives and mutineers. With gilted edges and decorative gilt stamping to boards. Illustrated throughout, with nine plates to volume II and eleven plates to volume I. With vingette title pages to both volumes. Collated, complete. Notable for the illustrations by famous illustrator and engraver, Thomas Stothard. Stothard illustrated many popular and important works including The Pilgrim's Progress, The Rape of the Lock and The Decameron. This is Daniel Defoe's most famous novel and was first published in 1719. Defoe is known as being one of the earliest proponents of the novel as he helped to popularise the form. In full calf bindings with gilt stamping to the spines and board edges. Externally, generally smart with areas of minor rubbing to the joints and extremities. Small areas of rubbing to the head and tail of spines. Cockling to endpapers due to adhesive. Some damage to the front pastedown of volume I due to worming. Prior owner's bookplate to verso of front endpapers, William Botfield. Minor holes to bookplate and front endpaper to both volumes. Front hinges are slightly strained but firm. Internally, both volumes are generally firmly bound. First few pages to volume II are slightly strained but firm. Pages are generally bright with light scattered spots throughout. Very Good Indeed.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, is one of the earliest and most influential novels in the history of English literature. It is a fictional autobiography of the title character, a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers before being rescued. The story is widely perceived as a comment on the British Imperialism of the age and the emerging ideology of the 'self-made man', and it reflects on the author's vast array of experiences.