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BOSWELL, James. Johnson, Samuel. THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. Comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works, in chronological order; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversation with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition. In two volumes. [with an ALS from Johnson inserted] |
London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1791. 2 vols., 4to, pp. vii [xvi], 516; [ii], ix-xii, [ii], 588. Engraved portrait frontispiece and two engraved plates. Contemporary quarter calf neatly restored at head, red and black labels, vellum tips, marbled paper boards, a very good copy.
§ First edition, one of 1750 copies printed. First state of page 135, vol. I, with the misprint "gve" for "give". Mm4 and Nn1 in Volume I and E3, Oo4, Qq3, Zz1 and Eee2 in Volume II are cancels, with blank [A] 1 in vol. 2. Courtney & Nichol Smith, pp. 172-173; Pottle 79; Rothschild 463.
Tipped in at the end of volume 2 is a 1p. autograph letter signed from Samuel Johnson to Mrs. [Frances] Reynolds, dated Dec 23, [17]83. It reads in part: “Dearest Madam, You shall doubtless be very welcome to me on Christmas day. I shall not dine alone, but the company will all be people whom we can stay with or leave. I will expect you at three, if I hear no more... [postscript] I mean, do not be later than three; for as I am afraid I shall not be at church, you cannot come too soon.” The poignancy of this brief letter is immense: Johnson knew Frances, Sir Joshua’s younger sister, most of his adult life and (according to her biographer) once proposed marriage to her though she remained unmarried her entire life. Johnson was very ill in December 1783 and indeed never did go to church again. The next day he was to write to Boswell that he could “bear sickness better if he were relieved from solitude” but Boswell does not record what Johnson did on Christmas day 1783. One has to hope that he was with Frances Reynolds. Just before Johnson died, almost exactly a year later, he added a codicil to his will that left her a book from his library, another indication of his fondness for her. Birbeck and Hill #919. Only two further letters are recorded to her before his death. Until this letter turned up, it was only known through a copy (at Harvard) in Miss Reynolds’ hand. $22,500. |
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AUDUBON, John james. THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, From Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories |
New York: J.J. Audubon, Philadelphia: E.G. Dorsey for J.J. Audubon, New York and J.B. Chevalier, Philadelphia, [1839-]1840-1844. 7 volumes, 8vo., 500 hand-colored lithographic plates after Audubon by W.E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly and others, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen, wood-engraved anatomical diagrams in text. Full-page portrait of Audubon at the end of vol. 7. Original de luxe full brown morocco gilt bindings (one in a very slightly different but matching style), rebacked a little crudely. Internally magnificent, with no foxing or spotting and the plates and text in flawless condition. Complete with all the half-titles, subscriber lists, and index, and what seems to be an exceptionally rare portrait of Audubon not called for and unknown to Reese.
First octavo edition, containing five hundred superb hand-colored plates. One of the most spectacular series of ornithological prints ever produced and a landmark attempt to document the birds of North America. The royal octavo edition, which Audubon referred to as the “petit edition,” contained new species of birds and plants not included in the folio edition, with the birds grouped in an orderly scientific manner. A very good set of one of the most important and desirable of all American plate books. $85,000. |
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