The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)

London: by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1791, 1793.

Rare presentation copy of Boswell's famous biography.

(Item #1827) The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy). James Boswell.

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)

London: by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1791, 1793. First editions. With two autograph presentation inscriptions by the author to a close friend, and one who assisted in the perparation of this work. The first inscription, on the verso of the first title page reads: "To Andrew Lumisden Esq: from his old and much obliged friend The Authour." The second on the verso of the title page to the "Corrections and Additions" reads: "To Andrew Lumisden Esq: from his obliged friend The Authour."

The recipient is referred to in the printed footnote on page 511 of volume one as: "My worthy and ingenious friend, Mr. Andrew Lumisdaine, by his accurate acquiantance with France, enabled me to make out many proper names, which Dr. Johnson had written indistinctly, and sometimes spelt erroneously." Birkbeck Hill and Roger Ingpen, in their editions of "Boswell's Johnson" give the correct spelling, "Lumisden."

Andrew Lumisden (1720 - 1801), Jacobite; private secretary to Prince Charles Edward, 1745; present at Culloden, 1746; included in the Act of Attainder; escaped to France; under-secretary to the Chevalier de St. George at Rome, 1757; pardoned, 1778. (DNB)

With the bookplates of Sir Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange and Thomas Lumisden Strange, nephew and grandnephew of Andrew Lumisden. Signed by Thomas Lumisden Strange in each volume and with a comment written by him about Boswell's "Life of Johnson" made by Dr. Samuel Parr (1747 - 1825).

Quarto (pages: 279 x 215 mm), collating: xii, [xiii-xxviii], 516; [ii], 588; [ii], 42; complete with frontis portrait of Johnson in vol. 1, round robin plate and plate of his handwriting in vol. 2. Second state of p. 135 with the corrected spelling of "give" in vol. 1 (as usual for Boswell's presentation copies). With all other first edition points required by Pottle.

Handsome contemporary full tree calf, sympathetically rebacked, preserving most of the original spines (newer morocco labels for the titles). Corners worns. Original end papers with old bookseller notations in pencil. Some foxing, heaviest near the portrait of Johnson, otherwise a clean, tidy set.

True presentation copies of "The Life of Johnson" are rare. One copy brought 37,500 pounds, December 2016 (Sothebys), but that one was inscribed on a separate sheet of note-paper, not on an integral page, as here. And, there is no mention of the recipient, Sir William Forbes, helping the author prepare his work (as here). The last first edition copy inscribed on an integral page brought $68,500 (Sothebys 1998), inscribed twice, as here, once on the verso of the title page to volume one and once on the verso of the "Principal Corrections." That copy was presented to Dr. John Douglas, Bishop of Carlisle, later Bishop of Salisbury, who appears in a short episode in the work, but there is no mention of his assistance preparing this work (and for what it's worth, that record is now almost 20 years old). Pottle mentions a handful of other presentation copies give to: John Wilkes, Warren Hastings, Sir William Scott, and James Boswell the younger.

Easily the most desirable and interesting set to appear on the market in the last twenty years. Not only are the inscriptions integral to the books (and includes the scarce "Principal Corrections," but the recipient is mentioned in the book as someone who assisted in its preparation. A remarkable copy that remained in the Lumisden family for at least three generations.
(Item #1827)

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The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (Presentation Copy), bound with "The Principal Corrections and Additions to the First Edition of Mr. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson," 1793 (Presentation Copy)