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JOHNSON ( Samuel ) : - [Cook ( Wm. )]. The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. With occasional remarks on

Currency:EUR Category:Antiques / Books & Manuscripts Start Price:10.00 EUR Estimated At:150.00 - 200.00 EUR
JOHNSON ( Samuel ) : - [Cook ( Wm. )]. The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. With occasional remarks on

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Auction Date:2012 Oct 20 @ 11:00 (UTC+1)
Location:38 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
JOHNSON ( Samuel ) : - [Cook ( Wm. )]. The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. With occasional remarks on his writings, an authentic copy of his Will, and a catalogue of his works. To which are added, some papers written by Dr. Johnson, in behalf of a late unfortunate character [Dodd], never before published. Dubin [i.e. Dublin] : Printed for R. Moncrieffe, C. Jenkin, R. Burton, L. White, P. Byrne, J. Cash, S. Colbert, and W. M'Kenzie, 1785FIRST IRISH EDITION, 250-pages, with the half-title, 12mo, contemporary calf, neatly rebacked retaining original endpapers, flyleaves and spine label, gilt : with light toning but a sound, pleasant and very good copy with the attractive armorial bookplate of John Randolph, Jr (“Fari Quae Sentiat”) and the inscription “Rd [Ryland?] Randolph Jun. Matoax 1790" on blank margin of bookplate, and, on recto of facing flyleaf, the one-line name inkstamp “Nath. Higginson 1787” and below that another inscription “To / Miss Mary Ann Chambers / from her friend / H. L. Lee / June 1838.” The scarce first Irish edition of an uncommon early life of Johnson, written two months after his death, probably the first to be published. Cook was a member of the Essex Head Club and a close friend of Johnson. Boswell made considerable use of this life. The pieces in defence of Dodd had previously been suppressed at Mrs’s Dodd’s request. John Randolph, Jr. must be one of the several Virginia Randolphs, perhaps the Congressman and orator (1773-1833), son of John Randolph and Frances Bland. After her husband’s death Frances remarried in 1778 and went to live at Matoax Plantation, which likely explains the 1790 inscription by what seems to be one of her Randolph nephews or great-nephews. The later inscription by “H. L. Lee” must also be Virginian, although it may be a little fanciful to suggest the forenames might be “Henry Lightfoot”, there seems to have been such a one alive at that date. “Nath Higginson” proves more elusive : we can trace no other example of this 1787-dated ownership stamp, nor any biographical details of an American of that name living at the time.ENGLISH PRE 1801; DUBLIN PRINTED; ENGLISH LITERATURE; BIOGRAPHY; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;