Lot 46
  • 46

Boswell, James

Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
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Description

  • Boswell, James
  • The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Printed by Henry Baldwin, For Charles Dilly, 1785
  • Paper
8vo, second edition "revised and corrected", PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO SIR WILLIAM FORBES ("To Sir William Forbes | of Pitsligo Baronet | from his much obliged | and affectionate friend | The Authour") on the verso of the half-title, half-title, cancel leaf F5, 1pp. publisher's adverts announcing Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson as "preparing for the press", contemporary calf backed marbled boards, spine somewhat worn, boards slightly rubbed, some minor worming, short tear to fore-edge of D7

Provenance

Sir William Forbes, bookplate

The Forbes Baronetcy was created in 1626 for Sir William Forbes (d. circa 1650) by James VI in the Barontage of Nova Scotia. The majority of the works offered here were acquired by the sixth Baronet, also William (1739-1806), who added Pitsligo to his title in 1781. He was an eminent Scottish banker and benefactor, good friend of James Boswell and Samuel Johnson (see lots 45-46), and finally succeeded in recovering the Pitsligo estates forfeited after the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. His son William, the seventh baronet, beat Sir Walter Scott to the hand of the renowned beauty Williamina Belsches Stuart (1776-1810), and it was with their marriage that the family moved to her family seat, Fettercairn House in Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire.

Literature

ESTC T53588; Pottle 59; see Rothschild 456

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where 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."

Catalogue Note

BOSWELL'S ACCOUNT OF HIS TOUR OF THE HIGHLANDS AND INNER HEBRIDES, INSCRIBED TO HIS FRIEND SIR WILLIAM FORBES.

Boswell's Tour as published, according to Pottle, was "almost literally the actual journal...kept day by day on the journey". Although the majority of the book was therefore written in 1773, it was not published until after Johnson's death. The first edition having sold out within a month, this second edition was seen through the press by Edmund Malone, Boswell himself being back in Scotland by the time of the printing. As well as his editor, Malone became Boswell's closest friend for the later part of his life, and, like Forbes, served as his executor after his death in 1795.

For further details of the friendship between Boswell and Forbes, see lot 45.