A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.
London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1775.
Price: $1,500.00
About the item
First edition, first issue, with 12-line errata and with "afford" on p. 199, l. 13. [ii], 384, [2, errata on recto] pp. Errata leaf, D8 and U4 are cancels (U4 in corrected state numbered 296). 8vo. Contemporary sprinkled calf, red morocco spine label, board edges gilt. Some wear to joints and extremities, a few mostly marginal stains. Courtney & Smith p. 122; Chapman & Hazen p. 151; Fleeman 75.1J/1a; Rothschild 1257. Provenance: Sir George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle (armorial bookplate); the Howards of Effingham (bookplate); unidentified armorial bookplate; sold Bernard Quaritch (pencil note dated May 1964); Louis & Anne Marie Davidson (bookplate).
Item #308078
The scarce first printing. "I had desired to visit the Hebrides ... and was ... induced to undertake the journey, by finding in Mr. Boswell a companion ... " Though Johnson's name does not appear on the title-page, the opening sentence left no doubt in the minds of his earliest readers who the author was.
