Two Dissertations. I. On the Graecian Mythology. II. An Examination of Sir Isaac Newton's Objections to the Chronology of the Olympiads
London: J. Nichols, 1782. First Edition. Large-paper copy. Tall octavo (25cm). In the publisher's binding of half-parchment over marbled boards; xxii,[2],231pp; fore and bottom edges uncut. The parchment spine is wanting its title label, otherwise the fragile publisher's binding is very nicely preserved, with expected rubbing and wear to extremities but with the boards solidly attached; the text fresh, clean, and unmarked, completely untrimmed preserving full margins; a Very Good copy.
Musgrave (1732-1780) was both a physician and classicist, and achieved a measure of eminence in both fields, with the ODNB noting that "...as a Greek scholar, [Musgrave] had few superiors." Musgrave died in severely reduced circumstances, leaving a widow for whose benefit the current volume was published by subscription, the whole endeavor carried out by Musgrave's old friend Thomas Tyrwhitt. The list of subscribers is indeed impressive, including among others Samuel Johnson, Edward Gibbon, Joshua Reynolds, and others. FLEEMAN, A Preliminary Handlist of Copies of Books associated with Dr. Samuel Johnson 214; BABSON Newton Collection 220; ESTC T147724.
Price: $500.00