The Works of Samuel Johnson, With An Essay on His Life And Genius By Arthur Murphy, Esq.

The collected works of the prolific writer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) who was famed for his creation of the dictionary.

Twelve volumes; 8vo (22 x 14.5 cm); ownership plate to front pastedown of Vol. I, offsetting and spotting to endpapers of all volumes, though later volumes largely unaffected, some spotting, soiling and mottling to some pages of all volumes, primarily to earlier volumes and mainly preliminary pages, though more evident to Vol. I pp8-9, Vol. II pp1789,183,243 and Vol. IX pp8-9, offsetting from ribbon bookmark affecting all volumes on the following pages respectively, pp220-1, pp162-3 and pp256-7, pp224-5, pp234-5, pp510-1, pp152-3 and pp204-5, pp376-7 and pp382-3, pp354-5 and pp378-9, pp86-9 and pp258-9, pp224-5, pp292-3, pp196-7, tear to front pastedown in Vol. I, pen line to pp115, small hole to pp275, error to lower fore-corner cutting to pp328 in Vol. II, rear hinge cracked but holding in Vol. IV, small closed tear to pp27, pp85-94 missing in Vol. V, error to lower fore-corner cutting to pp454-6, mark to pp513 in Vol. IX, error to lower fore-corner cutting to pp162 in Vol. X, newspaper cutting inserted to pp315, rear hinge cracked but holding to Vol. XII, otherwise good internal condition to all books and later volumes in very good condition; contemporary tan calfskin with one-line gilt-panelled border, spine in 6 compartments, black morocco panel to second and third with gilt lettering, remaining tooled in gilt pattern, marbled endpapers, red speckled edges, some fading to top age, general signs of wear, mainly to extremities, light spotting or occasional mark, some slight fading to spines, minor scuff to rear of vol. V and front of vol. VI, small white mark to rear of vol. IX, otherwise good condition; [viii], 414pp, [1]pp, [vi] 446pp, [2]pp, [vi], 444pp, [1]pp, [vi], 397pp, [1]pp, [vi], 560pp, [vi], 460pp, [iv], 408pp, [vi], 391pp, [1]pp, [iv], 575pp, [1]pp, [iv], 416pp, [iv], 565pp, [1]pp, [iv], 550pp.