Boswell's Life of Johnson Illustrated 3 volume set 1924 Navarre Society Publishing Rare history books

This is a good given age 3 volume set of hardcovers. Detailed description of age-related flaws below. This set is the 1924 Navarre Society hardcovers printed by Riverside Press, Edinburgh. Each volume is good condition. The front cover features a gold-stamped 3/4 profile portrait of Dr. Samuel Johnson and the boards are bound in maroon with the boards and gold portrait being very good. The top edge of the pages are tipped in gold gilt. The side and bottom margins of outer page edges are deckle-edge, intentionally cut uneven. Originally all three had an attached ribbon bookmark, with this set only Vol. 2 still contains the original ribbon. Each frontispiece features an illustration of Johnson and each still has the original tissue guard in place. Illustrations throughout all 3 volumes still contain the original tissue guards. NOTE: Volume Three has a water stain bottom page edges from approx page 306-321, see photo. Still pages in side all are considered good overall. The bindings are tight and straight, NOTE each suffers an age related fairly common binding crack but the pages are still tight to binding. Each is octavo book size or 6" x 9" each. Previous owners name neatly written in pencil script and dates "1925" inside each front cover.

Written in 1791, this is the bio by James Boswell is of English writer Samuel Johnson. It has been considered one of the greatest English biographies, notable for its success and extensive coverage of Johnson' conversations. But, the author took liberties in his writing and even changed or censored some comments. It is still an important work on Johnson and his times. This edition states; "The First Edition, 1791, Reprinted Verbatim With the Appendix" "and illustrated with twenty Photogravure Etching, Fifty Half-Tone Plates, and a Facsimile Autograph Letter".

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