Skip to content
South East Asian Art and Antiques, & Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable books
South East Asian Art and Antiques, & Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable books
Boswell's Life of Johnson, Illustrated, 2 Volumes complete, Routledge, 1859-1863

Boswell's Life of Johnson, Illustrated, 2 Volumes complete, Routledge, 1859-1863

£40.00
SKU LAN8612

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works in chronological order ; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons ; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published ; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great-Britain for nearly half a century during which he flourished. By James Boswell, Esq. A New Edition, Elucidated by Copious Notes, and Illustrated with Numerous Portraits, Views, and Characteristic Designs, Engraved from Authentic Sources. The books are also known as 'Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson' or 'Boswell's Life of Johnson'.

Bound in 2 Books, there are actually 4 Volumes in total - 2 in each book as follows;

Vol I, dated to 1863 on overall title page, containing:

Vol. 1; No individual publishing date. xxxii + 291pp; 

Vol. 2; No individual publishing date. viii + 298pp. 

Vol II, dated to 1859 on overall title page, containing:

Vol. 3; No individual publishing date. viii + 298pp; 

Vol. 4; No individual publishing date. viii + 9-300pp (as issued) + 4pp Publisher's advertisements. 

Published by George Routledge and Sons, London. 4 Volumes, bound as two complete. 

Bindings are fair to good - blue leather spines and burgundy buckram over boards, with gilt to spine. With shelf wear, rubbing and vertical hinges of spine heavily worn, and the head of both volumes is bumped and frayed, with losses. A little give in the spines.

Text pages are very good - clean and bright throughout with some scattered age spotting, and some foxing to endpapers. Volume 3 has a fold-out of a 'Round Robin' addressed to Samuel Johnson, with facsimile signatures. Some spotting to title/frontispiece pages. Small bookseller's catalogue entry pasted onto reverse of first free endpaper.

Text in English. Illustrated throughout with line drawings.

Dimensions: Each volume approx 197mm high x 138mm wide x 40mm deep.

Weight: Approximately 1400g (the set - unpacked).