London: Harrison and Co., 1785-1787. Hardcover. First edition of James Harrison's eight volume compendium of important eighteenth century periodicals with essays by such figures as Samuel Johnson, Richard Steele, Joseph Addison, George Lord Lyttelton, Launcelot Temple, Isaac Bickerstaff, and Adam Fitz-Adam among others. As is evident in the reprinting of these essays, letters, and newspaper issues, the eighteenth century was a time of great knowledge, exploration, rapidly growing technology and expanding archives of information made possible by advances in the printing press. Bound in contemporary leather in generally very good condition. Interior pages have spotting and foxing scattered throughout the eight volumes. An occasional loose page. Still very good.
Volume I: Samuel Johnson's "The Rambler" in four volumes with 463 pages; and George Lyttleton's "Letters from a Persian in 81 pages. Volume II: "The Adventurer" - a newspaper with 140 issues that continued Samuel Johnson's prose with 366 pages. Volume III: "The Tatler" written by Isaac Bickerstaff in four volumes with 641 pages. Volume IV: "The Spectator" written by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, volumes 1-4 with 646 pages. Volume V: "The Spectator, volumes 5-8 with 1260 pages. Volume VI: "The Connoisseur," written by Mr. Town with 313 pages; "The Citizen of the World" written by Oliver Goldsmith in two volumes with 208 pages; "The Babler" written by Hugh Kelly in two volumes with 199 pages. Volume VII: "The World" with 490 pages; Lord Lyttleton's "Dialogue with the Dead" with 96 pages. Volume VIII: "The Idler" written by Samuel Johnson with 146 pages; "Fitzosborne's Letters" with 124 pages; "Launcelot Temple's Sketches: with 45 pages; "The Lover" by Richard Steele with 86 pages; "Essays on Men and Manners" written by William Shenstone with 80 pages. LIT/080422. Very Good. More