Samuel Johnson,
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.
London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell. 1775
$2,500.00
A wonderful copy in fine contemporary binding of Johnson’s famous tour to the Hebrides. Here in the highly desirable, First Edition, First State.
The volume(s) measure about 22.2 cm. by 14.5 cm. by 3.5 cm.
Each leaf measures about 216 mm. by 129 mm.
- Main description
- Condition
- Biography / Bibliography
Main description
The full title reads as follows:
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, MDCCLXXV (1775).
Pagination: [2],384,[2] p. 8⁰.
Collation: A1, B – C8, D8, E – T8, U8, X – 2B8, 2C1
Condition
The volume is in very good condition. Bound in full contemporary sprinkled sheep the boards show little to moderate wear at the edges and corners with the joints superficially cracked at feet.
The volume is in excellent condition internally, with clean pages, clear print and ample margins throughout. There is an old worm-track with variable effect on text in quires B-P, further worming in fore margins throughout.
Please Take the Time Necessary To Review The Photographs on our website In Order To Gain The Fullest Possible Understanding Of The Content And Condition Of This Volume.
Biography / Bibliography
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (1775) is a travel narrative by Samuel Johnson about an eighty-three-day journey through Scotland, in particular the islands of the Hebrides, in the late summer and autumn of 1773. The sixty-three-year-old Johnson was accompanied by his thirty-two-year-old friend of many years James Boswell, who was also keeping a record of the trip, published in 1785 as A Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.
1st edition, 1st State:
The First Edition, numbering 2,000 copies, can be divided up into two states. “During the course of work the man at press interrupted his work to alter the paging at U4 from 226 to 296”, effectively dividing the first edition into two separate states. As well the Second Edition of 2,000 copies was started while the First was in preparation in anticipation of further sales. This second edition was on thinner paper and some signature marks starred to help separate the various states and editions in preparation. Our copy conforms perfectly with Todd’s[i] First State:
- Printed on thick paper
- errata leaf (with 12 lines)
- with cancels D8 and *U4
- all other signature-marks unstarred,
- errata uncorrected,
- 296 printed 226.
- 199 line 13 has ’afford’.
- Affected letters conform to Todd’s 1st
ESTC Citation No. T84319 Todd’s edition A.
[i] Todd, W. “The printing of Johnson’s Journey (1775)”, Studies in bibliography 6 (1954), pp.247-54
FEATURED PRODUCTS
-
Add to cartQuick View
-
Add to cartQuick View
-
Add to cartQuick View
-
Add to cartQuick View
-