[Bage, Robert], and others.

Man as he Is. For William Lane at the Minerva Press, 1792, 4 volumes, half-titles; Hermsprong; or, man as he is not. For William Lane at the Minerva Press, 1796, 3 volumes, half-titles, 2pp. advertisements at the end of volumes 1 and 2--[Summersett, Henry.] The Fate of Sedley. For William Lane at the Minerva Press, 1795, 2 volumes, half-titles, advertisements at the end; first editions, with the contemporary ownership signatures of "Mary Lyon", uniformly bound in contemporary quarter calf, marbled boards, some staining and foxing to leaves, bindings slightly worn; these 12mo; with one other (10)

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."

The businessman and novelist  Robert Bage (1728? - 1801) was a member of the Derby Philosophical Society, founded in 1784 by Erasmus Darwin, and with links to the Lunar Society of Birmingham. Bage's comic novel Man as He Is explores the issues raised by the French Revolution, advancing the principles of toleration, egalitarianism and reform; while the later Hermsprong; or, man as he is not (his last novel) directly attacks intolerance towards new ideas and proposals for sweeping reform (see Gary Kelly, Oxford DNB).