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Price: US$93.75 + shipping
Description: ,Folio,The first publication of Boswell's private papers, which had, since Boswell's death in 1785, lain locked in a cabinet sequestered in the estate of Lord Talbot de Malahide, until the copyright to them was acquired by Lieut. Col. Isham, 'as a result of which this long-shut gateway into the eighteenth century was finally unlocked'. Prepared for the press by Geoffrey Scott, whose 'duty has here been confined (except in Vol. VI) to establish the text and chronology of the documents; to classify them with a view to the special character of this edition; and to provide some brief explanatory prefaces.' The printer was William Edwin Rudge of New York City. After printing, the type was distributed. Our offering is the prospectus for an eighteen volume set from which Rudge, the printer, '.has the honour to present the following particulars in regard to [the set] for the information of collectors'. The folio contains details of the first six volumes in the series, which were issued in December, 1928, and brief details of 'further volumes to be issued subsequently'. Also, laid-in loose, is a facsimile of a page, in Boswell's hand, from his private papers. The 13 pages of text, and the facsimile, measure 39 x 26.5 cms., and, except for some minor marginal age-toning, are in excellent condition. The stiff card folder, on which is printed 'Private Papers of James Boswell', shows expected wear, but is still perfectly serviceable.
Seller: BISON BOOKS - ABAC/ILAB, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Price: US$1895.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Thousands of pages; aquatone facsimile plates, some tipped in; most volumes 4to, one tall folio and a couple of smaller folios or 8vo. Red paper-covered boards, printed title label on spines; slipcases also with title labels on spines. This work initially consisted of 18 volumes designed by Bruce Rogers and printed by William Edwin Rudge. Joseph Blumenthal characterizes this production as "magnificent examples of the arts of the printed book" (Bruce Rogers: A Life in Letters, p. 105). And, according to Rogers, "I have chosen a style flexible enough to accommodate the various papers, journals and documents comprised in the collection. No especial effort has been made to secure an air of antiquity, but by the importation of a recent English reproduction of John Baskervillles famous eighteenth century types it has been possible to present the text in a form typographically harmonious with Boswells individual mode of expression" (from the prospectus). Printed on handmade Maidstone paper for the quartos and Ronneby for the folio volume. The aquatone plates reproduce a number of manuscript documents in actual size. No. 253 of 570 sets, comprised of volumes 1 to 15, plus two later-issued related volumes (Boswells Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. [Viking Press, 1936] and The Private Papers of James Boswell: A Catalogue [Oxford University Press, 1931]), issued with a similar red design scheme as the original volumes and sometimes considered part of the full set, for a total here of 17 volumes. Not present are volumes 16-18 of the initial set and the later index volume. Included with this set are the prospectus (13 pp. + facsimile specimen, in folio) in matching red folder; the separate printed announcement also in matching red folder from Ralph Isham addressing the death of Geoffrey Scott (who essentially acted as the editor of the papers in preparing them for publication) and Frederick Pottle as his successor to complete the project; and three pages (reprint?) from the New York Times Book Review (Sunday, January 6, 1929) with an extensive review of this work. Condition of vols. 1-14: pages are mostly unopened in many of the volumes and are exceptionally fresh and bright; red paper-covered boards retain their full depth of color, and overall, is a fine, well-preserved set; only minor wear to slipcase corners, all near fine. Condition of the other three volumes: Vol. 15: no. 228 of 570 copies; spine age-toned and spotted; interior fine, slipcase shows wear and is split at one panel joint. Tour to the Hebrides: no. 460 of 790 copies of this edition; printed by D. B. Updike at the Merrymount Press, spine faded, interior fine; no slipcase. Private Papers of James Boswell Catalogue: unnumbered, but one of 415 copies, bound in red cloth, fine copy in like slipcase.
Seller: George Ong Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.