The Spectator, In Eight Volumes, 1749, J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, 1749

The Spectator began publication in 1711 and ended in 1713, and at its height sold 20,000 copies a day, according to its authors, covering all manner of subjects pertinent to 18th Century life in London. It is thought to have actually had a daily circulation of 3,000, with many more actual readers who would have read it in London's subscribing coffeehouses. It was also widely read in the American colonies. Originally issued as a paper, the issues were later collated into sets such as this one, reprinted, and continued to be widely read, long after it ceased to be published.

The Spectator, in Eight Volumes (complete). All volumes dated to 1749.

Printed by J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, London.

A good set. Each volume in full contemporary calf leather hardback with burgundy and gilt morocco title label to spine, along with gilt tooled decoration to spine. 

Covers with rubbing, bumping and wear. Title labels are missing from 4 volumes and are worn on other volumes. Remains of small private family library reference label near tail of spine. Previous owner's bookplates and signature - Anthony Murray of Crieff in Scotland.

Anthony Murray, known within the family as "Auld Dullerie" (or sometimes "Dullary"), was born in 1676. Like many intellectually curious Scots of his time, he journeyed to the Netherlands to pursue his studies at the University of Leiden. He lived a long life, passing away in 1761 at the age of 85—remarkably, he outlived his son, also named Anthony, who took part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745 and was killed at the Battle of Culloden. The family’s enduring pattern of travel—whether in search of education or in the service of war—carried on through later generations. Among them were a student at the Scots College in Douai in the late 1700s, two soldiers who served during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and a descendant who became a director with the Geological Survey of Newfoundland.

Each volume with pictorial frontispiece preceding the title page. 

Text is nice and clean throughout, making for a very readable set. Text with a few minor age-related flaws - occasional offsetting or light spotting at endpapers. Occasional worm-trail, scattered spot, or usage mark, but a very reasonable mid 18th Century set.

Overall an attractive and desirable early set of The Spectator, complete in 8 matching bindings. 

Text in English.

Pagination:
Volume 1: 324pp + (12pp) Index; 
Volume 2: 336pp + (12pp) Index; 
Volume 3: 314pp + (8pp) Index; 
Volume 4: 303pp + (9pp) Index; 
Volume 5: 301pp + (11pp) Index; 
Volume 6: 305pp + (19pp) Index; 
Volume 7: 333pp + (13pp) Index; 
Volume 8: 300pp + (12pp) Index. Complete. 

Dimensions: Each volume approximately 170mm x 106mm x 25mm. Set weighs approximately 1.66kg unpacked.