Lot 779

6 Vol Set "Boswell's Life Of Johnson" By George Hill ANTIQUE 1887 HC Bio Of Samuel Johnson 1st THUS Edition 1st Printing

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6 Vol Set "Boswell's Life Of Johnson" By George Hill ANTIQUE 1887 HC Bio Of Samuel Johnson 1st THUS Edition 1st Printing

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Estimate: $300 - $500

Starting Bid: $120

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by The Book Barn
August 13, 2026 5:00 PM EDT
Timed Auction
353 Indian Village Road
Shapliegh, ME, US 07076

ANTIQUE 1887 Hardcovers Biography Of Samuel Johnson 1st THUS Edition 1st Printing. "Boswell's Life Of Johnson Including Boswell's Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides & Johnson's Diary Of A Journey Into North Wales In Six Volumes" By George Hill. COMPLETE 6 VOLUME SET HARDCOVERS 1887 Oxford University at Clarendon Press 1st THUS Edition 1st Printing from the 3rd edition, Revised & augmented, whose title page is reproduced with the date of publication of MDCCXCIX (1799); with Date: MDCCLXXXVII (1887) on title page & with no additional printings on copyright page. Nice Collectible complete (6) volume hardcover copy set. OFTEN MISSING VOLUME (6) WHICH CONTAINS ADDENDA, INDEX, DICTA, PHILOSOPHY, ETC. IS PRESENT Exactly as shown in listing scan(s). COMPLETE 19TH CENTURY HARDCOVER BOSWELL BIOGRAPHY SETS ARE UNCOMMON.

"This set is regarded as an important stage in the development of the modern genre of biography; many have claimed it as the greatest biography written in English. While Boswell's personal acquaintance with his subject only began in 1763, when Johnson was 54 years old, Boswell covered the entirety of Johnson's life by means of additional research. The biography takes many critical liberties with Johnson's life, as Boswell makes various changes to Johnson's quotations and even censors many comments. Regardless of these actions, modern biographers have found Boswell's biography as an important source of information. It has been described as the definitive edition of Boswell's work, and was edited by renowned Johnsonian scholar George Birbeck Hill."

Illustrated with portraits & foldouts. Each volume has a Richardson/Pursue/Virtue bookplate inside front board & minimal X-library marking of an abrasion in Volume (1) where the card pocket was removed & small paper library code labels on each last end paper, o/w internally tight & unmarked, pages of volumes lightly toning but not brittle. Exterior Binding: TEG (Top Edges Gilt) all volume (1-6) have white library call letters at bottom of spine & light expected handling wear, but all lettering/decoration bright. NO DJs AS ISSUED

X-library with minimal library marking described above & in scans. NO REMAINDER MARKS. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED, NOT DEFECTIVE, & GENUINE.

PLEASE NOTE: We do all our own shipping. We will combine shipping on multiple items, where possible to save the wining bidder on shipping costs. Shipping will be added to winning bidder's invoice for item(s) won. Media Mail postage from USPS will be used for shipping in the United States for those items allowed. Lowest alternative cost shipping will be billed for items not allowed by USPS to be shipped by Media Mail. Foreign winning bidders will pay postage based on their countries small/medium/large Flat Rate box postage rates & weight of the package. Other types of postage are available at added expense at the bidders request. You also agree to pay any applicable taxes and/or customs/import duties. A Tracking Number will be provided to buyer. Insurance is mandatory on packages over $100 USD and will be added to postage charges when applicable.

  • Condition: Good Condition

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We do all our own shipping. Shipping will be added to winning bidder's invoice for item(s) won. Media Mail postage from USPS will be used for shipping in the United States for those items allowed. Lowest alternative cost shipping will be billed for items not allowed by USPS to be shipped by Media Mail. Foreign winning bidders will pay postage based on their countries small/medium/large Flat Rate box postage rates & weight of the package. Other types of postage are available at added expense at the bidders request. You also agree to pay any applicable taxes and/or customs/import duties. A Tracking Number will be provided to buyer. Insurance is mandatory on packages over $100 USD and will be added to postage charges when applicable.

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$20 $49 $2
$50 $99 $5
$100 $249 $10
$250 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 + $100