Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq. F.R.S., Secretary to the Admiralty in the Reigns of Charles II and James II. [Cosway Binding]

London: Harry Colburn, 1825. [Fine Binding]. Two volumes, complete. Full blue crushed morocco with hand-painted portrait miniatures of Samuel Pepys and Mrs. Pepys framed in seed pearls, ashes of roses moire doublures and endpapers, exaggerated raised bands, gilt titles with ornate tooled compartments, front and rear boards ornately ruled and tooled, all edges gilt, housed in two custom felt-lined clamshell boxes, (12 x 9.5 inches). First Edition, Printed by S. and R. Bentley, Dorset Street. SIGNED BINDING "Bound by Bayntun (Riviere), Bath, England." Volume 1: engraved frontispiece portrait of Pepys (Kneller/Bragg), printed title-page with Pepys' crossed anchor device; contents, list of plates: [i]-xlii; pp. [1]-498; index title-page, + index: [i]-xlix. Volume 1 illustrated with 8 engraved plates, including Pepys/Impington family pedigrees. Volume 2: frontispiece engraving of Pepys' Library in York Buildings (Nevill/Cooper), printed title-page with device; pp. [1]-311; Volume 2 illustrated with 5 engraved plates (with a total of 7 portraits), with half-title pages which are often lacking. The first published edition of Pepys' diary in full, described as unquestionably one of the world's great documents and remains a valuable resource. Pepys' diary enabled historians to understand more about 17th century London. He wrote extensively on personal finances, weather and food. In addition to day-to-day activities the diary provides a commentary on significant events during his lifetime. These include the Restoration of the British Monarchy, the Anglo-Dutch war, The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London (wiki). Externally the two finely bound volumes are without faults and remain in pristine, collector fine condition. Internally, the preliminary pages show the typical light foxing and plate off-setting, textblocks are tight and text is clean. The clamshell boxes (quarter blue morocco over blue cloth) show some wear and rubbing.. First Edition. Leather. Fine. Quarto.