First edition, “a crude, vindictive and slashing assault on the work of the great lexicographer which included hints of a latent Scottish nationalism” ( ODNB ), comprising extracts from Johnson’s Dictionary with negative commentary. “Callender was neither a philologist nor a lexicographer, yet he wrote a detailed criticism of the Dictionary , the major criticism being concerned with the definitions, the omissions, the superfluities, and the personality of Johnson. Despite its abusive language, it is not completely without humour. If it reveals nothing else, it reveals that Callender studied the Dictionary rather closely with one purpose in mind: to find as many errors as possible” (Morgan, p. 118). Callender (1758–1803) was later known for his radicalism and Scottish nationalism, and forced into exile in the US, where his pamphleteering continued, including exposing Alexander Hamilton’s illicit affair with Maria Reynolds. Octavo (204 × 124 mm). Bound in 20th-century calf, red morocco label, marbled endpapers. Bookplate, designed by Walter Crane, of Clement King Shorter (1857–1962), journalist and literary critic, and a noted book collector, whose collection and research into the Brontës led to important publications on the sisters. Slight rubbing to binding, contents a little toned and foxed with some pencil marginalia; a very good copy. ¶ ESTC T4499. Ira Lee Morgan, Contemporary Criticism of the Works of Samuel Johnson , 1954. £650 [154322] 92 JOHNSON, Samuel. Letters to and from the late Samuel Johnson . . . by Hester Lynch Piozzi. London: for A. Strahan; and T. Cadell, 1788 In the original boards First edition of Johnson’s collected correspondence, edited by Hester Piozzi, uncommon in the original boards. This was “the only substantial and authoritative edition of his letters for over a century until G. B. Hill’s edition in 1892”, uncovering the “informal Johnson” and “the intimate and enjoyable relationship he had with the Thrales, his daily life and travels” (Yung, no. 89). Piozzi’s first book, the candid and ground- breaking Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson (1786), sold out on the first day of publication. As Johnson’s principal correspondent for a decade, she followed this with the present work, collecting some 338 of Johnson’s letters, which also sold well. Though it attracted some criticism from Boswell (this work
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90 JOHNSON, Samuel. A Dictionary of the English Language. London: for J. F. and C. Rivington, L. Davis, T. Payne and Son, W. Owen, T. Longman, B. Law, J. Dodsley (and 19 others), 1785 IN CONTEMPORARY CALF First authorized quarto edition and the sixth edition overall, preceded by a pirate Dublin edition the previous year and issued following Johnson’s death in 1784. 2 volumes, quarto (270 × 204 mm). Contemporary tree calf, rebacked and recornered preserving red and green morocco twin labels. Engraved portrait frontispiece by Cook after Reynolds; printed in triple columns. Light spotting and toning to contents, short closed tear slightly affecting text to vol. I 5P1. A very good copy. ¶ Courtney & Smith p. 57. £2,250 [154201] 91 JOHNSON, Samuel – CALLENDER, James Thomson. Deformities of Dr Samuel Johnson. Edinburgh: printed for the author; and sold by W. Creech and T. Longman, and J. Stockdale, London, 1782
anticipated his famous biography by three years), “her editorial practice has largely been vindicated by modern editors who reserve their disapproval for the self-conscious over-dressing of her own revised letters to Johnson” ( ODNB ). Volume II includes, printed here for the first time, a Latin poem by Johnson to Dr Lawrence, with Piozzi’s English version, and translations of Boethius’ De Consolatione Philosophiae , made by Johnson with a few lines by Piozzi. 2 volumes, octavo. Original brown paper-backed blue boards, volume numbers inked to flat spines, edges uncut. Housed in a black cloth flat-backed folding case. Vol. I without errata leaf as in some copies (Chapman and Hazen, p. 165). A lovely, fresh set, trivial shelfwear to edges, a few minor marks to boards, outer leaves faintly foxed, traces of adhesion to lower edge of final leaf in vol. II, otherwise exceptionally clean throughout. ¶ Courtney & Smith, pp. 168–9; Chapman & Hazen, p. 165; Rothschild 1270. L. Berglund, “Dr Johnson’s apology for the married life of Hester Thrale” in Writing Lives in the Eighteen Century , 2020; K. K. Yung, Samuel Johnson 1709–84 , 1984. £2,750 [156641]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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