London: Chapman and Hall, 1869-1874. First Thus. Library Edition. Thirty-four octavo volumes (207 x 133 mm) uniformly bound by Morrell ca. 1930 in three-quarter crushed brown levant morocco over brown cloth ruled in gilt. Spines with five raised bands, decoratively gilt lettered and tooled in compartments. Two volumes professionally repaired at top of spines. Engraved frontispieces and plates. The Library edition, originally issued in 30 volumes 1869-71, with three additional volumes (translations from the German) added in 1871 and also a thirty-fourth volume as General Index . A near fine set.

"In literature [Carlyle] was the pioneer who explored and made known the work of modern Germany. His literary judgments were penetrating, and (when he had a congenial subject) just; and on men like Voltaire, Burns, and Johnson he gave verdicts that approached finality. At a historian he is in the highest rank. Bating certain unimportant errors of detail, he illumined the past with astonishing insight and made his personages actual and his scenes dramatic. His style is an extraordinary farrago, leaping not flowing, coining strange words and performing extravagant evolutions; yet cumulatively it impresses as a great style, suffused with humor, irony, and passion; impossible to imitate, utterly personal, burning, and convincing" (British Authors of the Nineteenth Century). Beautifully bound by W. T. Morrell on London, established c. 1861 as successor to the firm begun by Francis Bedford, who, in turn, had assumed control of the esteemed bindery of Charles Lewis. Sarah T. Prideaux, in Modern Bookbindings, states that Morrell had a very large business that supplied "all the booksellers with bindings designed by his men," bindings that were "remarkable for their variety and merit." Near Fine (Item #3586)