Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$64.04 + shipping
Description: Two post 8vo volumes, complete; each of matching full calf; gilt fillets to margins of boards; spine tooled in compartments, with lettering in gilt to second and third compartments; pp. xxxvi + (xlii) + 424 + index, (ii) + 446 + index; William Hogarth woodcuts as plates, incl. folding. Spines somewhat worn; joints starting; paper tape reinforcing to hinges; occasional fox spot. Good condition. An attractive set of Butler's famous satire of Puritanism, religiosity and pseudo-intellectualism, first published in the aftermath of the English Civil War. This edition includes the first appearance of Zachary Grey's critical notes.
Seller: Christison Rare Books, IOBA SABDA, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Price: US$108.87 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Volume 1 only. Full leather cambridge style binding, Extremities worn particularly the corners. Lacks spine label. Signature to front endpaper. Frontispiece depicting Samuel Butler, 9 further engravings after William Hogarth some folding all complete and clean. Some sporadic light pencilled annotations. ; Engravings; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; xxxvi 424 pages
Seller: Horsham Rare Books, Horsham, United Kingdom
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Description: With Large Annotations, and a Preface, by Zachary Grey. 2 vols. Adorn'd with a new Set of Cuts: frontispiece portrait and 16 fine engraved plates (five of which are folding). 8vo, old full calf, seriously desicated and with the spine labels lacking. The joints are cracked but the cords still holding strong; leather rubbed and scuffed and very dried out.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
BUTLER.SAMUEL.. HUDIBRAS(TWO VOLUMES).. J.BENTHAM., CAMBRIDGE., 1744.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: EARLY C19TH HALF LEATHER BINDING OVER MARBLED BOARDS.BLANK PAGE AT FRONT OF VOL.1. WATER-MARKED 1814.RAISED BANDS,TWO SPINE LABELS AND GILT LETTERING AND DECORATIONS ON SPINES.VERY LIGHT WEAR TO COVERS.ALLEDGES SPECKLED.NINE PLATES IN VOL.1;SEVEN IN VOL.2.ALL FINE.CONTENTS TIGHT AND CLEAN.COMPLETE IN TWO VOLUMES.OLD INK NAME ON TITLE PAGE.
Seller: Angus Books, SHEFFIELD, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Contemporary calf, gilt-stamped ornament direct in spine compartments, gilt-stamped lettering in red and black leather spine labels in second and third compartments (5 raised bands); complete set of 2 volumes, 8vo; pp. [2] (title-p., blank), xxxvi, [42] (list of subscribers), 424, [16] (index), plus frontispiece portrait of Butler (by Vertue) and 9 plates (many of them folding); [2] (title-p., blank), 446, [24] (index, errata), plus 7 plates, some folding. Aforementioned plates, numbered I-XVI, by J. Mynde after William Hogarth. First edition with amendations and preface by Grey. Boards scuffed along joints and edges; spines dry, chipped at tips. Text is very fine -- remarkably crisp and clean.
Seller: Sanctuary Books, A.B.A.A., New York, NY, U.S.A.
Samuel Butler, Zachary Grey. Hudibras in Three Parts, Written in the Time of the Late Wars. , 1744.
Price: US$225.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Samuel Butler, Zachary Grey. Hudibras in Three Parts, Written in the Time of the Late Wars Corrected and Amended. with Large Annotations, and a Preface by Zachary Grey, LL. D. Adorn'd With A New Set Of Cuts. Cambridge: Printed By J. Bentham, Printer To The University, For W. Innys in London: MDCCXLIV. Two volumes; 8vo. [2], xxxvi, [42], 424, [16]; [ii], 446, [24] Engraved portrait frontispiece of Butler and sixteen full-page engraved plates by Mynde after William Hogarth. First edition to use Hogarth plates. Several plates are folding. One plate has a long tear repaired, two have slight edge damage. Contemporary calf, re-backed and reinforced with Japanese paper. Rear board of volume II replaced. End-papers renewed. Interior text very clean (Lowndes I, 335.)
Seller: South Willington Book Cartel, WILLINGTON, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$234.40 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: An eighteenth century edition of this famous satirical polemic. In gilt tooled speckled calf leather bindings. Illustrated with frontispiece to volume I and further plates after Hogarth with some folding. Hudibras is a mock heroic poem from the 17th century written by Samuel Butler. The work is a satirical polemic upon Roundheads, Puritans, Presbyterians and many of the other factions involved in the English Civil War. The work was written in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678 although an unauthorised edition came out in 1662. Published only four years after Charles II had been restored to the throne and the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell being completely over the poem found an appreciative audience. The satire is not balanced as Butler was fiercely royalist and only the parliamentarian side are singled out for ridicule. Butler also uses the work to parody some of the dreadful poetry of the time. In speckled calf bindings. There is some wear to the extremities including bumping to the corners and tops and tails of the spines. Minor rubbing to the spines. Front hinge to volume II and rear hinge of volume I have failed, with boards detached from textblocks. The front inner hinge has been strengthened with tape in volume I. The bindings are generally firm although the cords are exposed in a number of places. Internally the books have some spotting in places and the occasional handling mark. Internally the books have some spotting in places and the occasional handling mark. The tops of pages 27-116 in volume II are damaged with slight to heavy loss of the text. There is worming throughout volume I, mostly to the margins but affecting the text in some places. There is some occasional evidence of past worming in volume II. Fair
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$240.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 8vo. 3 parts in 2 volumes.Fully bound in contemporary brown calf-skin leather. 5 raised bands. 6 compartments. Gilt embossing to borders and compartments. Gilt on board edges. Beige and brown morocco spine labels indicating title and volume. Tight binding and solid boards. Moderate shelf wear. Slight bumping to corners. Rubbing to boards. Scuffing to edges. Slight cracking to spine edges. Scuffing, fraying to spine ends. Chipping, loss to upper compartments along spine on both volumes. Slight damp-staining to inner front board of volume 1. Both volumes possess slight darkening to endpapers. Both volumes have personally library bookplates. Clean, unmarked pages. Profusely illustrated with steel plate engraved etchings.Samuel Butler was a poet and satirist. Born in Strensham, Worcestershire and baptised 14 February 1613, he is remembered now chiefly for a long satirical burlesque poem on Puritanism entitled Hudibras. The work is a satirical polemic upon Roundheads, Puritans, Presbyterians and many of the other factions involved in the English Civil War. The work was begun, according to the title page, during the civil war and published in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678, with the first edition encompassing all three parts in 1684.A well-preserved, edited and amended copy of this classic work of satire. A fine addition to any personal library. Please feel free to view our photographs of this volume. Ships daily.
Seller: Sequitur Books, Boonsboro, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$256.17 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 1744 The First Edition of Zachary Grey's Huibras with William Hogarth's plates engraved to a very high standard by J. Mynde. Size 9.25" x 5.75" Rebound in 19th century Crimson morocco with crimson leather spine section. Five raised bands to the spines with gilt lines, titles and volume numbers. Gilt page edges. Condition near fine, clean tight and tidy binding, old owner's name, C.W. Adams in margin of title pages, bookplate on verso of title page in Volume II "Mens Conscia Recti", else nice and clean inside. Three parts in two volumes. Volume I, 424 pages plus index. Volume II, 446 pages plus index and errata. Volume I contains a frontispiece portrait engraved by G. Vertue, ex Museo R. Mead, M.D., Butler's note "To The Reader", The Author's Life, 11 pages and then The Preface by Zachary Grey, 36 pages. There is also a 42 page list of subscribers, followed by errata. Containing 16 beautiful full page engravings by J. Mynde after William Hogarth, 1 of which is folding. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Lazarus Books Limited, Blackpool, LANCS, United Kingdom
Price: US$279.55 + shipping
Description: Volume: 1 [2 tomi] 19.5x11.5 cm., XIV,XXXVI,[44],424,[16] pp. ; 446,[24] pp., Incisione con ritratto autore all'antiporta; alla sguardia stupendo ex libris figurato "Westport House" con il motto "suivez raison"; 16 tavole di W. Hogarth,in parte ripiegate, legatura in piena pelle; fregi in oro anche al dorso e ai piatti, legatura un po' allentata, in inglese, bell'esemplare rara prima edizione completa in ottime condizioni
Seller: BACCHETTA GIORGIO - ALFEA RARE BOOKS, Milano, Italy
Price: US$280.48 + shipping
Description: 8vo, 20.5cm, the first edition of this edition, xxxvi, (42),424, (16) & 446,(24)pp., with copper engraved frontis portrait by Soest engraved by Vertue & 16 copper engraved plates (4 double-page) by Hogarth, indexes, list of subscribers, in full contemporary calf, raised bands, crushed orange morocco labels, gilt titles, gilt ruled borders on the boards, upper hinge starting on volume one but sound, one folded plate in volume two has some staining and is torn at the fold, some slight wear at the edges else a very good relatively clean sound set (n14) The first edition of Zachary Grey's annotated edition of Butler's great burlesque satire that has formed the basis of all subsequent editions. "Hudibras" was one of the first books illustrated by Hogarth in 1726. Employing a mixed etching-engraving technique, the illustrations are considered amongst his best book illustrations. A very attractive set of an important edition.
Seller: J. Patrick McGahern Books Inc. (ABAC), Ottawa, ON, Canada
Price: US$288.19 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Complete in 2 volumes. Books measure 21x14.cm. Collation, xiv,xxxvi,[42],424,[16]pp, 446,[23],[1]pp, engraved frontis, plus 16 plates. Bound in full calf. Both volumes have been rebacked, retaining the period panelled boards, raised bands, leather labels, gilt lettering. Calf rubbed, some abrasion wear, mainly to boards edges and corners. Generally, both bindings in very good clean firm condition. Internally, previous owners bookplate, occasional spotting. Pages and plates in very good clean condition. A nice well bound set. F Size: 8vo
Seller: George Jeffery Books, HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
Price: US$315.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Very Good full leather set, in the original leather. The spine leather has some cracking and the ends are chipped off. The board edges and corner tips are worn. Both volumes have the previous owner's bookplate attached to the inside of the front board. There is foxing to the endpapers, text is clean and bright, bindings are tight. ; 2 vols.; 8vo 8" - 9" tall
Seller: Elder's Bookstore, Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Price: US$349.99 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Cambridge: Printed By J. Bentham for W. Innys, A. Ward, J. And P. Knapton et al, 1744. Two volume set, 1744, this edition with sixteen beautifully executed plates by W. Hogarth, five of which are folding (all present and in very good condition). Full contemporary speckled calf with decorative gilt borders, spine labels and decoration, marbled endpapers. Spines have surface chips from drying and are now archivally stabilized, expected cover wear, hinges good, text blocks sound, small white bit of paper glued to outer edge of each title page which appears to be covering a monogram, pages clean, numerous bookplates and names in each volume including armorial bookplates of Heber Mardon, bookplates of University College of the South West Exeter indicating the books were gifted by Heber Mardon, additional bookplates of G. H. Macnamara on preliminary blanks covering monograms (CM or MC), name of Eliot Breton written on another preliminary blank, numerous pencil notes on preliminary blanks concerning this title in volume I along with a very old clipping from a bookseller catalogue describing another example of this edition, described as the "best edition". . Hard Cover. Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
Seller: Resource Books, LLC, East Granby, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$375.00 + shipping
Description: 18th century large annotated edition of Butler's acclaimed mock romance, the "best edition" according to Lowndes. Octavo, two volumes bound in full calf with red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins illustrated with 16 engraved plates by J. Mynde after William Hogarth including frontispiece portrait of Butler to Vol. I., errata, index, and list of subscribers. In very good condition. Rebacked. Bookplates and ownership inscriptions. Exceptionally clean internally. Published in the aftermath of the English Civil War, Samuel Butler's Hudibras is a scathing satire of Puritanism and the Parliamentarian cause from a Royalist perspective. âThe poem is of considerable length, extending to more than 10,000 verses, yet Hazlitt hardly exaggerates when he says that âhalf the lines are got by heartâ; indeed a diligent student of later English literature has read great part of Hudibras though he may never have opened its pagesâ (Britannica). Voltaire, who translated a condensed version of the poem into French, noted that âthere is one English Poem, the title whereof is Hudibras; it is Don Quixote; it is our Satyre Menippee blended together: I never met with so much wit in one single book as this.â Hogarth's engravings first appeared in the 1726 edition, but this is called by Lowndes the "Best edition. Copies in fine condition are in considerable request. The cuts are beautifully engraved by Hogarth" (Lowndes p. 335).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Samuel Butler. Hudibras, In Two Volumes. J Bentham, Cambridge, 1744.
Price: US$377.85 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: The mock heroic narrative of the English Civil War, illustrated here and comprised of three parts in two volumes. In a lovely early binding. The illustrations are after Hogarth. The work was first published shortly after the civil war by the fiercely Royalist Butler. It satirises Roundheads, Puritans, and Presbyterians, who had formed some of the major constituencies of opposition to the throne It tells the story if Sir Hudibras, who is conceited and fanatically religious. In these characteristics he represents a Royalist view of the Parliamentarian leadership. The work"s three parts are each divided into three cantos, with the edition of some "heroic epistles". It was extremely popular, with even Voltaire saying, "I never found so much wit in one single book." Its verse form, known as "Hudibrastic" became the standard for satire for some time afterwards. This mid 18th century edition is testament to its enduring appeal. The edition features a frontispiece of the author, as well as a short biography. Collated from Copac: there are three plates missing from the nine called for in volume one, but this copy appears to be bound without them. Volume two is complete with the six plates called for. In full calf with gilt detailing to the spines and borders. Externally sound with minor rubbing to the extremities of the board and some general shelfwear. There are more prominent marks to the front board of volume one. The front joints are weak for both volumes. The front free endpaper for volume one is loosening from the binding. Generally clean and bright throughout, with occasionally a little offsetting from the plates. Three plates are missing from volume one: one between pages 166/7, and two from between pages 244/5. Firmly bound. Very Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Description: Hogarth, William. First Hogarth edition, with list of subscribers. Adorn'd with a new Set of Cuts [By William Hogarth, (1697-1764)]. xxxvi, [42, subscriber], 424, [16, index]; 446, [24, index, errata] pp. 2 vols. Thick 8vo. His small illustrations to Samuel Butler's mock-heroic Hudibras, published in 1726 but executed earlier (ibid., nos. 5-21), led to an ambitious project to publish by subscription, through the publisher Philip Overton, twelve large plates, also in illustration of Hudibras (ibid., nos. 82-93), unequivocally of his own invention, with monumental figures and learned allusions to Italian art. Bound in 3/4 polished brown nineteenth century calf (neatly rebacked), marbled boards. Very Good copy Adorn'd with a new Set of Cuts [By William Hogarth, (1697-1764)]. xxxvi, [42, subscriber], 424, [16, index]; 446, [24, index, errata] pp. 2 vols. Thick 8vo First Hogarth edition, with list of subscribers.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$460.00 + shipping
Condition: Poor
Description: Engraved frontis of Samuel Butler (by George Vertue). 16 very nice Hogarth plates (only 2 have even a spot of foxing). Original spines and leather boards but spines have split and the boards have separated, and the text is coming apart. However, there is very little foxing and most of the text is unusually clean. With a nice repair job, this would be a handsome set.
Seller: Oisamot Books, Marietta, GA, U.S.A.
Price: US$475.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Volume One, pp. xxxvi, list of subscribers, [3], 2-424, index. Volume Two, pp. [3], 2-446, index, errata. Three parts bound in two, complete. Frontispiece of the author. Illustrated with Hogarth plates. Both volumes bound in full matching leather with raised bands and gilt on the spines. Spines are darkened, otherwise the bindings are solid, square, with tight non-cracked hinges. Interior of the books are very clean, no previous owner's names or marks. The Hogarth plates are beautifully detailed, some fold out. No foxing. A very attractive, clean set.
Seller: ARABESQUE BOOKS, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
Price: US$540.89 + shipping
Description: xxxvi, [42], 424 [16] & 446 [23], [1] pp., with engraved portrait from G. Vertue, and 16 plates, (5 of them folded) by Mynden after Hogarth. Gilt margins. The boards are rubbed and scuffed, with some wear to the spine ends and corners. Internally, eventually some minor touches of finger soiling and the odd spot, superficial splitting of fep to the front hinge of the second volume, but bindings are very tight and prints and pages crisp, and clean throughout, almost as new. Actually a really nice and sound set. - Samuel Butler (* 8. Februar 1612 in Strensham, Worcestershire; 25. September 1680 in London) war ein englischer Dichter. Sein Hauptwerk ist das komische Epos Hudibras" (Teil 1 u. 2, Lond. 166364, Teil 3, 1678; dann oft zusammengedruckt, am besten in der hier vorliegenden Prachtausgabe von Zacharias Grey, mit Kupfern von William Hogarth, Cambridge 1744. Das Versepos, offenbar eine Nachahmung des Don Quichote, schildert die Abenteuer des presbyterianischen Ritters Hudibras und seines Knappen Ralph, welche das Land durchziehen, um alle möglichen Übel zu vertilgen, doch als Heuchler und Schmarotzer, die sie sind, überall nur Schläge ernten. Das von Witz sprudelnde und in einem eigentümlichen Stil geschriebene Werk bricht unvollendet ab, verdient aber auch in dieser Gestalt als Zeit- und Sittenspiegel großes Lob. // William Hogarth (* 10. November 1697 in London; 26. Oktober 1764 ebenda) war ein sozialkritischer englischer Maler und Grafiker. Als Vorläufer der modernen Karikaturisten prangerte er in Gemälden und Kupferstich-Folgen die Sitten und Gebräuche seiner Zeit, schonungslos und mit beißender Ironie an. Als Kupferstecher machte Hogarth sich mit seinen 1726 erstmals veröffentlichten Illustrationen zu Samuel Butlers in Knittelversen verfasster, antipuritanischer Abenteuergeschichte des Antihelden Hudibras einen Namen. (nach Wikipedia) Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 3000 Oktav 8°. Bound in period half leather over marbled boards.
Seller: Plesse Antiquariat Minzloff, Bovenden, Germany
Price: US$634.03 + shipping
Description: Two volumes. First Zachary Grey edition. 8vo. 220x135mm. pp. Vol. 1: [2], xiv, xxxvi, [42, list of subscribers], 424, [16, index]. Vol. 2: [2], 446, [24, index]. With frontispiece engraved portrait of Butler and sixteen plates engraved by Mynde after William Hogarth. Contemporary quarter calf, marbled paper covered boards. Pages uncut. Rubbing and wear to boards and slight scuffing to spine. Internally very good. A very nice copy of the edition regarded as the best and the most scholarly. Zachary Grey was able to lavish time and attention on his edition by securing a vast number of subscribers, among them "Samuel Johnson of Lyons Inn".
Seller: Voewood Rare Books. ABA. ILAB. PBFA, Holt, United Kingdom
Price: US$634.03 + shipping
Description: A brilliant two volume illustrated edition of this work by acclaimed poet Samuel Butler. Samuel Butler (1613-1680) was a poet and satirist, Hudibras, a mock-heroic poem, being his most widely remembered work. It takes the form of a royalist satirical polemic upon many groups behind the English Civil War, including Roundheads, Puritans and Presbyterians, published four years after the restoration of Charles II to the throne. It was extremely popular upon its first releases in 1663, 1664 and 1678, with pirated copies circulating. Describes the tale of knight Sir Hudibras, lauded so much it becomes absurd, although the poet frowns upon his religious views. Volume I contains a frontispiece illustration, five folding plates and five full plate illustrations. Volume II contains one folding plate and six full plate illustrations. Collated, complete. In a full calf binding. Externally lovely, minor shelf wear to the extremities. Internally firmly bound, pages bright and clean, small tear to the frontispiece illustration in vol I. Very Good Indeed
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Butler, Samuel. Hudibras.. , 1744.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Best edition. The first printing of Grey's edition of Butler's mock epic satirizing the Puritans, with 16 engraved plates (some folding) by William Hogarth, and an engraved frontispiece portrait of Butler from a painting by G. Soest. Two volumes, 8vo. With a list of subscribers, errata & indices. Full contemporary speckled calf, gilt, skillfully re-backed, all edges stained yellow. Slight wear to edges & corners, otherwise a fine, well preserved set. CBEL II: 260; Lowndes 335. In Three Parts, Written in the Time of The Late Wars; Corrected and Amended. With Large Annotations, And a Preface, By Zachary Grey. Adorned with a new set of Cuts. Cambridge: Printed by J. Bentham, for W. Innys, et al.,
Seller: Peter Keisogloff Rare Books, Inc., Brecksville, OH, U.S.A.
BUTLER, SAMUEL. HUDIBRAS. J. Bentham [spelled "Bettenham" in volume II], Cambridge, 1744.
Price: US$1300.00 + shipping
Description: 203 x 133 mm. (8 x 5 1/4"). Two volumes. Edited and annotated by Zachary Grey. Recent dark brown half morocco over linen boards, raised bands, spine gilt in compartments with central fleuron, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. With engraved frontispiece portrait of Butler after Soest, and 16 lively engraved plates after Hogarth, five of them folding. Title pages with early ownership inscription marked out with black ink; title of volume I with ink signature of Isaac Cookson. Lowndes I, 335. âIsolated faint foxing, otherwise AN UNUSUALLY FINE COPY, the text extraordinarily fresh, clean, and bright, and the retrospective bindings unworn. This is a remarkably fresh and bright copy of the first printing of the major 18th century edition of "Hudibras," the version upon which most subsequent printings were based for many years, and simply "the best edition" according to Lowndes. Butler's mock epic in octosyllabic couplets was first published (in three installments) in 1663, 1664, and 1678. Modelled after "Don Quixote," the work satirizes the hypocrisy and self-seeking of the Presbyterians and Independents, represented by the title character and his squire Ralpho, whose humorous adventures provide ample opportunity to demonstrate their pedantry, greed, duplicity, and cowardice, as well as the ridiculous nature of their sectarian squabbles. Numbered among the relatively few illustrations Hogarth did for books, the engravings here were specially prepared for the 1726 edition of "Hudibras," and they were re-engraved for the present edition, resulting in especially rich impressions. Our early owner may well have been the Isaac Cookson (1705-54) who was a prominent gold- and silversmith in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he ran a flourishing business with a specialty in ecclesiastical silver. His obituary in the "Newcastle Courant" on 24 August 1754 proclaimed him a paragon of commercial and personal virtue.
Seller: Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA), McMinnville, OR, U.S.A.
Price: US$1383.76 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: In two volumes. First of this edition. 8vo., full contemporary calf, raised bands, single gilt decoration in compartments, leather spine labels, (2), xxxvi, (42)p.subscriber list, 424, (16); (ii), 446, (24)pp. With an engraved frontispiece in volume one and 16 full page plates after Hogarth. Bookplate, name on titlepage, this copy has been professionally rebacked with a calf spines after the period o/w a fine set.According to Dibdin and Lowndes, this is the 'best critical edition of Hudibras. It is the first to contain the Preface and Annotations by Grey Although the Hogarth illustrations did appear in earlier editions, they were re-engraved for this edition.
Seller: David Mason Books (ABAC), Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$2241.51 + shipping
Description: First Grey edition, a particularly choice copy, in an elegant contemporary binding in an extraordinarily fresh state of preservation. For the edition, which was illustrated with cuts by Mynde after Hogarth's drawings, Grey raised a vast subscription, said to have totalled £1,500. His knowledge of puritan literature enabled him to illustrate his author by profuse quotations from contemporary writings, and to show 'who in the late Rebellion, under pretence of Religion, murder'd the best of Kings, to introduce the worst of Governments' (vol. I, p. ix). The subscription list includes "Samuel Johnson of Lyons Inn", the future lexicographer (Eddy and Fleeman, 12). D. D. Eddy and J. D. Fleeman, "A Preliminary Handlist of Books to Which Dr. Samuel Johnson Subscribed", Studies in Bibliography, Vol. 46, 1993, pp. 187-220. 2 volumes, octavo (201 x 122 mm). Contemporary calf, orange morocco labels, gilt in compartments, red speckled edges. Engraved portrait frontispiece by G. Vertue and 16 plates (of which 5 are folding) engraved by Mynde after designs by William Hogarth. A hint of rubbing at extremities, one plate (vol. II, p. 339) just trimmed at fore edge, else a fine copy, contents clean, bindings firm.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom