The British Essayists

London : J Richardson et al. , 1823. Leather. Good. 6.5" by 4". Various. A collection of essays from numerous British periodicals. he second edition of this work. With a frontispiece to volumes I, V, VI, XIII, XXIII, XXVI, XXXII, Comprising of: Volumes I-IV The Tattler Volumes V-VIII The Spectator Volumes XIII-XV The Guardian Volumes XVI-XVIII Rambler Volume XIX Idler Volumes XX-XXII Adventurer Volumes XXIII-XXV World Volumes XXVI Connoisseur Volumes XXVIII to XXIX Mirror Volumes XXX to XXXI Lounger Volumes XXXII-XXXIV Observer Volumes XXXV to XXXVII Knox's Essays Volumes XXXVIII to XL Knox's Winter Evenings Unfortunately board to volume XXXVII has detached due to water damage to the externals, this has not affected the text. Complete in forty volumes. Scarce to find this set in a complete condition with all forty volumes. Comprising of numerous essays from many famous periodicals edited and written by the likes of Richard Steele and Joseph Addison. In full morocco bindings with gilt stamping to the spines and to the board edges. Externally, sound with slight rubbing to the head and tail of spines as well as to extremities. Some volumes have heavier rubbing to spines than others, such as volumes XXIII-XX. Loss to spine of volume III due to rubbing. Severe loss to head and tail of spine to volume XIII due to rubbing. Small loss to head and tail of spine to volumes XV,XVI, XVIII, XXII, XXXI, XXXVI, XL. Front hinge to volumes I, XXIX and X are slightly strained but firm. Front hinge to volume III is tender. Front hinge to volume V is tender with the frontispiece and title page working loose. Both hinges to volumes XXVIII and XXXIII are slightly strained but firm. Front hinge to XXXII is tender after title page, resulting in frontis and title page working loose. Front joint to volume XXXI is starting but firm resulting in a tender hinge. Rear hinge to volume XXXII is slightly strained but firm. Both hinges to volume XXXIV are tender. Front hinge to volume XL is tender after endpapers, resulting in binding to title page becoming weak, page is almost detached from textblock. Tidemarks to boards and endpapers of volumes XXXIII - XL due to water damage affecting the margins of some further pages to volumes XXXIX and XL, but not affecting text. Front board to volume XXXVII has detached due to water damage, rear board is cocked. Internally, all volumes are generally firmly bound. Pages are generally bright with spots to the endpapers and the odd spot throughout. Volumes XXXIII-XL have some tidemarks and evidence of damp staining to the margins. Good