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Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets; The,
Dublin: Printed for Messrs. Whitestone, Williams, Colles, Wilson…, , 1779. Item #05770
First Dublin Edition of Johnson's Lives of the Poets
JOHNSON, Samuel. The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets; and a Criticism on Their Works. Dublin: Printed for Messrs. Whitestone, Williams, Colles, Wilson…, 1779, 1781, 1781.
First separate edition (preceding the first separate London edition by two years).
Three octavo volumes (8 5/8 x 5 1/4 inches; 218 x 133 mm.). [iv], 536; [iv], 496; [iv], 399, 1, blank] pp.
Mixed issue of volume 1 with first state "partaking his posterity" (line 3 on page 4) but second state with "Butler" on (headline Q8v). First issue, first state of volumes 2 and 3, without the oval title-page vignettes.
Small piece (5/8 x 3/8 inch excised from blank fore-margin of pp. 3/4 in volume 1.
Contemporary patterned calf, covers ruled in blind. Rebacked with the original spines laid down. Spines with five raised bands, paneled in gilt, one red and one green morocco label, lettered in gilt. A handsome set, housed in a fleece-lined , brown cloth slipcase.
“The second great work with which Johnson’s name is now generally associated is The Lives of the Poets. It was the simplest in style and expression of all his literary labours, the subject appealed to every man of letters in the three kingdoms, and it abounded in anecdote and in criticism” (Courtney & Nichol Smith, p. 129).
“Originally entitled Prefaces biographical and critical to the Works of the English Poets, published 1779-81. Johnson was invited in 1777 by a deputation of London booksellers to provide biographical prefaces for an edition of the works of various English poets, from the period of Milton onwards; the selection was made by them, and includes poets of very differing merit. The final total was 52, including 4 minor poets suggested by Johnson himself. When the work was completed the prefaces were issued without the texts as Lives of the Poets” (The Oxford Companion to English Literature).
Courtney & Nichol Smith, p. 129.
Price: $750.00