Description
"The Lives of The Most Eminent English Poets; with Critical Observations on Their Works by Samuel Johnson in Four Volumes, Embellished with Elegant Engravings. Montrose: Printed by D. Buchanan, Sold by Him & by W. Creech, P. Hill, W. Mudie & A. Constable, Edinburgh, M,DCCC. (1800). 18mo (3.75 x 5.75 inches) Uniform binding of full calf leather with green labels and gilt tooling. Test block edges are marble flecked. Frontispiece engraved portrait of the author in the first volume. Other engravings are portraits of some of the poets. Volume I: 313 pages, Volume 2: 308 pages, Volume 3: 306 pages and Volume 4: 340 pages. Inside each cover is an armorial style bookplate with the hand-written "Home" surname. The bookplate imagery shows a left facing standing lion, a knight's head armor and the motto" True To The End". This imagery and motto are associated with the Earl of Home, a title in the Peerage of Scotland. A gift inscription on each book reads " A. H. to his sisters 1801". The 10th Earl Home, Alexander (1769-1841), had two sisters. His son, Cospatrick Alexander was born in 1799 and had no sisters. His father died prior to this date. It is possible this set was gifted by the 10th Earl and the inscription is in his hand and the bookplate surname is in the hand of one of his sisters. A modern index card was inserted in Volume 2 with a handwritten note "This is the closest I could find to the 18th c. Hope the set is suitable. Engravings are interesting. - John R." Bindings are intact and show wear to edges and corners. Cracking to spine leather and loss of some gilt. Minimal foxing. Previous owner's personal library notations on end papers. Gift inscription on blank page of each book. Vols 1, 2 and 4 back covers have a crack across leather. Shipped boxed and insured.
Ross McCulloch
Unusual amusing vintage unused 1920s/30s card. The card is just as described and pictured. It is in excellent condition at a very good price. This card, along with two others I bought, were very well packed and shipped quickly. An excellent transaction!! 😁
Kris1532b21a
The cards arrived very safely packed in nice plastic sleeve. It was in great condition and looked even better in person. Quality was as described and I would buy from this seller again.
binzhang8491
Great book, in excellent conditions, as described. Nice seller. Quite high shipment costs, but it not depends on the seller anyway.