BOSWELL, James [JOHNSON, Samuel]

The 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 King James II in the Year 1746

London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1786. Third Edition, Revised and Corrected. Octavo. 21.5cm. Bound in a rather spectacular 20th century mossy green, ripple patterned vellum, with a red leather and gilt title label. [xv];[1]; 442pp.;[1] ads. Some sunning to spine panel, very light wear to extremities, clean, tight, and very striking; internally clean and fresh, plain endpapers, half title present, without map as issued, gathering "O" slightly proud, and with a pinhole of damage to the title page affecting the "L" in "Journal.", a little thumbing and soiling in places, otherwise a very good, tidy copy in a rather delightful later binding.

An account by James Boswell of the three-month journey through the Highlands and islands of Scotland that he undertook with Samuel Johnson in 1773. Johnson later published his own version of the expedition, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, in 1775. Johnson, perhaps predictably sticks to the improving topographical observation fashionable at the time, whereas Boswell's account probably has a case for being the shared ancestor of the Rough Guide/Lonely Planet Guide style of travel writing, preferring engaging anecdote and less predictable (slightly voyeuristic in places) observations both of the people and the places, but also of Johnson himself. The retained ad leaf is for Boswell's "Life of Johnson" "Preparing for the Press, in one Volume Quarto."

Price: $300.00

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