Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of.

Letters written by the Late ... Earl of Chesterfield, to his son Philip Stanhope, Esq., late envoy extraordinary at the court of Dresden: together with several other pieces on various subjects. Published by Mrs Eugenia Stanhope, from the originals now in her possession. J. Dodsley, 1774, 2 volumes, 4to, first edition, 2 frontispiece portraits to vol. 1, errata leaf to vol.2, scattered pencil markings and a few notes to vol.2, erratum corrected at vol.1 H2r, spotting to some pages, mark on margin of vol. 2 D2r, a few leaves slightly short--Miscellaneous Works of the Late ... Earl of Chesterfield: consisting of letters to his friends, never before printed, and various other articles. To which are prefixed, Memoirs of his Life ... by M. Maty. M.D. Edward and Charles Dilly, 1777, 2 volumes, 4to, first edition, 8 engraved medallion portraits in vol.1, tear to vol.2 T1 not affecting text, some spotting; the four volumes uniformly bound in contemporary red morocco with elaborate gilt roll border, spine in six compartments four with gilt tooling and two green morocco lettering pieces, gilt roll on board edges, edges gilt, rubbed

General Sir John Irwine (1727/8-1788), KB and Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, his bookplate. Irwine was a friend of Chesterfield and eleven letters by Chesterfield to Irwine are printed in Miscellaneous Works, vol.2, pp.553-67.

Rothschild 596

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

a fine set of chesterfield's works, once the property of a friend of the writer. Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, an important and influential example of advice literature, have been described by his biographer as  "one of the world's permanent books ... an exquisite flower of civilisation", although they were memorably dismissed by Johnson as teaching "the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing master" (quoted in Oxford DNB).