A Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Containing Some Poetical Pieces by Dr. Johnson, relative to the Tour, and never before published; A Series of his Conversation, Literary Anecdotes, and Opinions of Men and Books: with an authentick account of The Distresses and Escape of the Grandson of K

London: by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly,, 1785. First edition of Boswell's version of their three-month trek through the highlands and islands of Scotland in late 1773. Johnson had published his own account, very different in tone, in A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, 1775. Boswell's account "has the chatty informality of a 'rough' guide: its focus is on Johnson, as it describes his charged encounters with the native population, whether humble cottagers or important personages like Lord Monboddo and Boswell's formidable father Lord Auchinleck... The tour... deepened the friendship between the pair, and increased Johnson's respect for and confidence in Boswell as a future biographer" (Pat Rogers in ODNB). The final leaf advertises Boswell's Life of Johnson as "Preparing for the Press, in one Volume Quarto". Octavo (208 x 127 mm). Contemporary mottled calf, smooth spine with attractive circular flower-and-leaf tools between double gilt rules, green morocco label, spot marbled endpapers. With the ownership inscription at the head of the half-title of Rebecca Penyston (née Assheton), dated 1787, the year of her marriage to Francis Penyston of Cornwell, Oxfordshire. Front joint cracked but holding firm, corners just worn, still a very good copy.