18th Century Literature

London: Sharpe and Son et al., 1819. 4 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A superb later full straight grain calf by Riviere with gilt raised bands, twin labels and ornate gilt tooling to the panels. Twin gilt fillets frame the boards, gilt dentelles and all edges. Portraits in volumes I & II, as called for. A fine edition of the works of this great 18th century novelist in pristine condition inside and out.

London: William Pickering, 1835. 2 volume set, 6 1/2 inches tall. A handsome little set in a Victorian full straight grain calf binding with raised bands, twin labels and ornate gilt tooling to the panels. All edges gilt. Portrait. Slight foxing to the preliminaries otherwise a neat, clean set of the poetic works of this 'charmingly humorous' lyric poet.

London: M. Cooper, 1744. Full roan, 8 inches tall. An exceptionally clean copy of the scarce first English edition of this guide intended to be "A System of Rules and Instructions, to qualify the Fair Sex to be useful and happy in every State". In full mid 18th century roan with raised bands and simple blind roll and fillets to the board. With the armorial bookplate of William Danby Esq. and the neat ink inscription 'Eliza Danby' on the title page. Some superficial marks to the lower board.

London: Privately Printed, 1898. 2 volume set, 9 inches tall. A simple half morocco binding with raised bands, gilt lettering and gilt top edges. The spine is somewhat faded, otherwise in excellent condition. Limited to 360 copies of which this is number 59. This epistolary novel, showing the depravity of the French nobility was still considered too risqué for general publication even at the end of the 19th century in England. Embellished with 15 plates. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. This great French novel was a huge success from its publication in 1784 and has remained in print ever since.

London: John Murray, 1854. 4 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A classic Victorian full calf by the great firm of Hayday & Mansell, with gilt raised bands, twin labels and elaborate gilt tooling to the panels. Twin gilt fillets, a blind fillet and rose corner tools frame the boards. 4 engraved title pages. There is a neat ink inscription 'on leaving Eton, July 1862' on the first blank. A minor stain runs along the foredge of the plates. A handsome set of the works of Oliver Goldsmith, the great Anglo-Irish novelist, naturalist and poet.

London: Hector McLean, 1821. 3 volume set, 8 1/4 inches tall. A splendid full calf by Root with gilt raised bands, triple labels and delicate gilt tooling to the panels. Dentelles and all edges gilt. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Embellished with 15 fine hand-coloured aquatint plates. A delightful edition in pristine condition. The adventures of a golden Guinea as it silently passes from person to person, and the variety of human nature encountered.

London: Rivington et al., 1810. 8 volume set, 6 inches tall. A handsome later (c.1890) full calf with gilt and blind bands and red labels. At the head of each title page a strip has been removed (presumably to remove an owner's name) and expertly repaired. Minor foxing. Richardson's masterpiece is considered one of the greatest, earliest and longest of English novels. A novel written as a series of letters it is the tragic tale of Clarissa Harlowe, a young woman whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family.

London: Vernor and Hood et al., 1800. Half morocco, 7 1/4 inches tall. An elegant volume bound by J. Soulby of Ulverston and with their ticket. With gilt raised bands, unusual orange marbled paper on the boards and gilt sunburst centre tools. With delicate engraved plates some of which are stained. An interesting provincial binding of a neat edition of the poetry of this influential English poet of the 18th century. With a life by Dr. Johnson.

London: Nimmo and Bain, 1883. Half morocco, 9 inches tall. A simple but accomplished binding by the great firm of Ramage, with raised bands and neat gilt framed panels. The spine is faded but bright on the shelf. One of 150 copies. With 4 etchings and a portrait of Beckford by A.H. Tourrier.

Paris: Galignani, 1825. 4 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A stunning half morocco binding with wide gilt bands very elaborate extra gilt panels with a very impressive armorial device in the central panel. With the bookplate of Margaret Mirrielees. Slight foxing. An interesting Continental English language printing of the works of this great 18th century Irish writer.

London: William Pickering, 1847. 2 volume set, 6 1/2 inches tall. A very fine Victorian full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and superb gilt tooling to the panels. Twin gilt fillets frame the boards. James Thomson, the 18th century poet now best known for writing the lyrics of 'Rule, Britannia!', was one of the most popular and influential poets of his century. A fine copy in excellent condition.

London: Rivington, et al., 1816. Full calf, 5 1/4 inches tall. A lovely little Regency binding with blind raised bands and unusual and very attractive gilt tooling to the panels and an elaborate series of gilt fillets and rolls framing the boards. Bookplate. Charming engraved frontispiece and bookplate. James Thomson, the 18th century poet now best known for writing the lyrics of 'Rule, Britannia!', was one of the most popular and influential poets of his century. A fine copy in excellent condition.

London: Wenman and Hodgson, 1791. 4 volumes bound in 1, 5 1/4 inches tall. A slightly later half calf with wide gilt raised bands, blind pallets and label typical of the 1820's. Engraved frontispiece to volumes 1 and 3 opposite which is some degree of foxing, otherwise clean. A charming edition of the works of this tragic English satirist and poet.

London Baldwin and Becket, 1784. 4 volume set, 7 inches tall. A simple but elegant full 18th century tree calf with red label and gilt pallets and volume numbers. Portrait. Bookplate of Ellen James. Foxing facing the portrait and at the end of volume 4, otherwise a clean set. A curious work, rarely found in fine condition by philosopher, composer and writer, Rousseau, who was one of the most influential philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment.

London: Printed by C. Whittingham for Scatcherd et al., 1808. 2 volumes bound in 1, 6 1/2 inches tall. A handsome Georgian half 'Russia' calf with gilt bands and delicate centre tools. Red specked edges. With 2 engraved frontispieces and further full page plates.

London: James Wallace 1805. Full morocco, 6 1/2 inches tall. A remarkable Georgian binding with gilt raised bands, twin labels and superb delicate gilt tooling to the panels. The boards have exceptional gilt fan tooling to the corners framed within gilt and blind fillets and a black inked roll. The striking watered silk doublures and free endpaper are framed within wide gilt rolls. All edges gilt. A new edition ornamented with 10 engravings by Bewick. A neat ink inscription on the title page 'Isabella Tod. 1812'. This delightful volume is rubbed but still a choice volume.

London: Dodsley, 1759. 2 volume set, 6 3/4 inches tall. An elegant later binding in full speckled calf by Strakley of Cambridge with gilt raised bands, label and fine gilt tooling to the panels. Engraved frontispiece which, with the title page, is foxed, otherwise clean. A lovely set.

London : to be had by the Subscribers of those Booksellers to whom they have subscribed, and at W. Bristow's late Shop in St. Paul's Church Yard, or at his House in Roll's Buildings, Fetter-Lane, 1766-1767. 4 volume set, 7 1/4 inches tall. A superb full 18th century calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels, delightful gilt pomegranate tooling to the panels and a simple gilt chain roll framing the boards. Yellow edges. With the magnificent armorial bookplate of Vane Londonderry. An early advocate of women's rights having escaped an unhappy marriage and hostile husband. Early copies of her works are very rare even in institutions. A superb set.

London: Chapple, 1814. 2 volume set, 7 inches tall. A very fine full calf by Robson & Kerslake with gilt raised bands, fine floral gilt tooling to the panels, twin labels, dentelles and all edges gilt. Bookplate. Some wear to the joints, especially the upper joint of the first volume but still solid. The text block is spotless. There are earlier editions of Selections from La Fontaine's Tales but this is the first complete edition in English and as such is highly sought after. With 40 full page engraved plates. A beautiful set of the works of this great 17th century French fabulist and poet.

London: Dove, 1827. Full morocco, 8.75 inches tall. A splendid Georgian morocco binding with gilt raised bands, extra gilt panels, fine gilt tooling to the boards and all edges gilt. Engraved portrait. Neat ink inscription on the first blank dated 1835. An early Collected edition with a Life of Gray by William Mason.