BOSWELL, James (1740-95). The Life of Samuel Johnson, London, 1885, 5 vols., large 8vo, 23 engraved portraits on 20 plates by Joshua Reynolds, contemporary black calf (rubbed). NUMBER 173 OF 500 COPIES. "The Sir Joshua Reynolds Edition." (5)

BOSWELL, James (1740-95).  The Life of Samuel Johnson, L.L.D., and The Journal of his Tour to the Hebrides ... Edited by Henry Morley. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1885. 5 volumes, large 8vo (253 x 170mm). Half titles, titles printed in red and black, 23 engraved portraits on 20 plates by Joshua Reynolds, one leaf of facsimile signatures (some light mainly marginal staining). Attractively bound by Mudie in full contemporary black calf gilt, the spines gilt in compartments with red morocco lettering-pieces, top edges gilt, others uncut (extremities rubbed, some scuffing and light rubbing to boards, endpapers spotted). Provenance: "To George Layton and A. G. Melly, from Paul Springmann on his retiring from business April 1897" (inscription on the front free endpaper in vol. one); "Layton & Melly" (names stamped in gilt on the upper covers); some pencil annotation to rear endpaper of vol. one. NUMBER 173 OF 500 COPIES. "The Sir Joshua Reynolds Edition." Various plate counts are given for this work; this set is collated complete against the list at the front of each volume. (5)