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The SPECTATOR!

Printed 1712-1715!

 

FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING, of this important literary magazine.  

Rare, FIRST EDITION of The Spectator in book form.

 (Previously issued on a daily basis in pamphlet form. Here is the First Collected Edition issued as books.)

 

This set would make an important addition to any antiquarian library.

Bound in the Original Period Leather Bindings,

gilt-tooled,

Cambridge Style binding,

featuring elaborate cover paneling!

Marbled end-papers.

Thick, high-quality paper!

with wide margins.

Thick raised hubs on the spine over underlying cords.

Complete in 8-volumes.

9 inches tall.

 

London:

Joseph Addison & Richard Steele, et. al.

Printed for S. Buckley, etc., 

1712-1715.

Interior fresh, excellent condition. Light foxing. Text block very tight. These are the original period bindings, they do show some external wear, as shown in the pictures. Occasional, small cracks in leather, but hinges hold tight, and covers wish to pull closed, some professional and archival restoration, including restoration to some of the labels. Bookplate and early name. Printed on quality Rag Paper that will last. This set is about to turn 300 years old!

Number 40 of the Grolier 100 list!

Rare and Highly desirable!

 

Despite a modest daily circulation of approximately 3,000 copies, The Spectator was widely read; Joseph Addison estimated that each number was read by 60,000 Londoners, about a tenth of the capital's population at the time. Contemporary historians and literary scholars, meanwhile, do not consider this to be an unreasonable claim; most readers were not themselves subscribers but patrons of one of the subscribing coffeehouses. These readers came from many stations in society, but the paper catered principally to the interests of England's emerging middle class - merchants and traders large and small.

The Spectator had an effect on English society and literature quite out of proportion to its brief run of less than two years. It appeared daily - except Sundays - for 555 issues, from 1 March 1711 to 6 December 1712, with a brief revival of 80 issues in 1714. Each issue consisted of one long essay, printed on a single sheet of foolscap in double columns on both sides. This turned out to be the right format to appeal to the taste of a relatively new affluent class with an appetite for literature, but without the inclination to read lengthy books on the subjects treated in The Spectator.

 

The Spectator is an important part of any antiquarian library.

 

This would make an excellent gift and/or addition to any collection. Antiquarian books make a great investment, are only going up in value, and are sure to increase the aura of any room or office!

We will pack very securely to ensure safe arrival at your doorstep. All books are individually wrapped and professionally padded. We double wrap and will leave plenty of space between this purchase and the walls of the box. We fill this space with plenty of padding.

At Merchants Rare Books, LLC, Customer Service is very important. We offer a full refund if the item is not as described. Our goal is complete customer satisfaction. Please contact us with any questions. We can be contacted by email at [email protected], or by phone at (301) 942-1028.