THE WORKS OF SAMUEL JOHNSON

16 volumes. First edition, First issue of the Edition. One of 774 sets printed from type on Special Water Marked Paper. This is Copy 440. With an engraved portrait frontispiece of Johnson to Volume One after Sir Joshua Reynolds and profusely illustrated with frontispieces and gravures throughout the volumes by Reynolds and others. Large 8vo, in very handsome handsome bindings of three quarter tan morocco over blue marbled paper covered boards, the spines decorated with raised bands separating the compartments which are decorated with double fillet ruled panels incorporating central floral devices gilt, two compartments lettered in gilt, marbled endleaves to match, top edges gilt. A unusually fine set, beautifully presented and as clean, fresh and solid as could be expected. Internally very fine and the very handsome bindings, the last volume with evidence of a bit of damp to the lower edge of the binding, not affecting the text block and basically quite unobtrusive.

Edizione: a beautiful set of the of the works, beautifully preserved. samuel johnson was a translator,essayist, biographer, political commentator, literary critic, poet and author of the famous dictionary. although the dictionary and johnson’s version of shakespeare stand out in literary history, it should not be forgotten that he was an accomplished writer and some of his poetry is considered among the best of english literature: “.johnson was a literary artist of remarkable quality, the finest prose writer of the 18th century, unrivalled in the clarity of his expression. he was impatient with mere scholarship, recognizing how barren was the pursuit of learning for its own sake. his own erudition was prodigious (glance at any page of his dictionary) but it was acquired while he was gaining his knowledge of life; he never made a separation between life and art. his direct and disciplined style is an object lesson to any aspiring writer.’ [stapleton]