Defoe, Daniel

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner:...[WITH] A collection of Pamphlets

London: Printed for W. Taylor, 1719. Hardcover. Good. Item #45951

Small 8vo. Two volumes in uniform contemporary calf, raised spine bands, red leather spine labels with gilt title. Speckled edges. [iv], [1 folding map], 364, [4 pp. ads]; [viii], 348, [4 pp. ads]. Book 1 has famous engraved frontispiece portrait of Crusoe by Clark & Pine; book 2 lacks frontis (appears to have been present but removed per remaining stub) and map. Woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, and t.p. vignettes. Covers rubbed, wear to leather. Cracking to joints, chipping to spine ends (worse to book 2), wear to corners. Cracking to hinges. A few instances of browning, rust staining, ink smudging, pencil notation, but text blocks are otherwise remarkably clean. Some small spots of worming to publisher's list at rear of book 1. Some printing errors to and per catchwords in book 1 (pp. 23, 65, 82, 113, 178). One inch tear to outer margin and ink smudge to New Holland (Australia) to map. Publisher's adverts at rear of both volumes are incomplete per catchwords and bibliographies (4 of 11 pages only). Book 2 appears to be the second issue (two editions were printed with the same title page, but the third issue has only 318 pp.). Defoe's classic novel, written in the style of an epistolary autobiographical travelogue, chronicles the life and trials of a castaway on a tropical desert island. It is one of the most widely published books in history, with more translations than any other work except the Bible and a significant impact on literature. Its popularity enabled it to go through four editions in its first year of publication (1719), with the order for the second edition of the first book coming just seventeen days after the first printing of 25th April. The fourth edition of book 1 is the first to feature the map. The first edition of the second book came 20th August 1719, and the second issue of book 2 features advert to verso of A4 indicating the fourth edition of book 1 was "Just publish'd," so these copies were likely purchased at or around the same time. A very good rare early set of one of the most significant novels of early English literature. Hutchins 52-71, 97-112, 122-8; Moore 412 & 417; PMM 180; Rothschild 775. Provenance: Engraved armorial bookplates of Sir William Beauchamp-Proctor, 1st Baronet [1722-1773]. Proctor was a Member of Parliament for Middelsex from 1747-1768, and was the opponent of the radical John Wilkes in 1768, with Wilkes' defeat of the incumbent leading to the Middlesex election dispute of 1769. Also from the library of Dr. Theodore Heinrich [1910-1981], associate curator at the Metropolitan Museum, New York; director of the Royal Ontario Museum; professor of Fine Arts, York University. Heinrich served in the US Army during World War II, and remained in Germany after the war in connection with the recovery and restitution of looted works of art. In 1966, he began a full professorship at York University, which he held up to the time of his death. [University of Regina Library] [WITH] 6 pamphlets bound together in quarter hunter green leather, red title labels, gilt, raised bands, and marbled boards. Interior repairs include restored edges. Inside pretty clean, but with light stains, ink on different title pages, foxing, and occasional marginalia (mostly on the fifth pamphlet). Contains: (1) A Word Against a New Election. That the People of England May See the Happy Difference between English Liberty and French Slavery;. 1710, 23p. (2.) A Speech Without Doors. 1710, 20p. (3) Eleven Opinions About Mr. H------y; With Observations. 1711, 82p. plus 5p. advertisements. (4) Reasons Against the Secession of the House of Hanover with an Enquiry How Far the Abdication of King James, . 1713, 45p. (5) Memoirs of the Conduct of Her Late Majesty and Her Last Ministry. 1715, 80p. (6) An Argument Proving that the Design of Employing and Enobling Foreigners, is a Treasonable Conspiracy Against the Constitution. 1717, 102p.

Price (CAD): $13,500.00