The Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, L.L.D ... Containing some Poetical Pieces by Dr. Johnson, Relative to the Tour, and Never Before Published: A Series of his Conversation, Literary Anecdotes, and Opinions of Men and Books: with an Authentic Account of the Distresses and Escape of the Grandson of King James II, in the Year 1746.
New York & Boston: Inskeep and Bradford … and William M'Ilhenny [printed by R. & W. Carr], 1810.
Price: $650.00
About the item
First American edition, "from the London Edition, Revised and Corrected by the Author," issue with New York & Boston imprint. xvi, [2], 414 pp. 8vo. Contemporary calf, flat spine divided by gilt rolls and fillets into six compartments, lettered in one, the rest stamped in gilt with shield and bow and arrow tool. Light rubbing to covers, small stain to lower corner of title, some toning and spotting to text. Pottle 63; Shaw and Shoemaker 19607.
Item #311221
The first American edition appeared in two issues in 1810, one with a Philadelphia imprint, and as here, with a cancel New York and Boston imprint. Both issues were printed in Philadelphia by R. & W. Carr and are otherwise identical. The Philadelphia publisher, John F. Watson, has inserted an "Advertisement" at the front, making excuses for Boswell: "In republishing a work, which … has so long subjected its author to the sarcasms of foes, or to the plaudits of friends, it seems but the bounden duty of the American editor, to suffer the author in this place to offer those vindications which he afterwards saw fit to annex to his 'Life of Johnson.'"
An attractive copy in a contemporary American binding.
