Addison, Joseph; Steele, Richard. The Spectator, Volumes One to Eight (8 volumes). London: Printed for Jacob and Richard Tonson in the Strand, 1757. [10203]
Eight volumes sometime rebound in blue cloth, spines with title & volume number in gilt, each 8 x 5 1/2 inches. No library markings on the spines, "Special Collection" stamps and library name on each title page, small ink room number on title pages. Additional library ink stamps on the front and back rear end papers, and occasionally in the margins of text. Each with engraved title page, some darkening to the edges of the title pages, rest of texts are clean. About 475 pp. in each volume, all bindings very good and tight. This set never had card pockets or lending slips. Very good. Hardcover.
Provenance: purchased by us directly from the library sometime in the last ten years. We purchased thousands of books from this institution.
An early reprint of this celebrated work. A very good reading set, in fact, we have had it on one of our home library shelves for some years and have enjoyed it. Alas, books pile up, shelves need to be emptied, and we need to keep selling to stay afloat. So, here is your opportunity.
"The Spectator was a daily publication founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in England, lasting from 1711 to 1712. Each 'paper', or 'number', was approximately 2,500 words long, and the original run consisted of 555 numbers, beginning on 1 March 1711. These were collected into seven volumes. The paper was revived without the involvement of Steele in 1714, appearing thrice weekly for six months, and these papers when collected formed the eighth volume. Eustace Budgell, a cousin of Addison's, and the poet John Hughes also contributed to the publication." - wikipedia.
Sir Richard Steele (1672-1729), b. Dublin, Ireland; d. Carmarthen, Wales. "Essayist, dramatist, journalist and politician, best known as the principal author (with Joseph Addison) of the periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator...on April 12, 1709, he secured his place in literary history by launching the thrice-weekly essay periodical The Tatler...Steele created the mixture of entertainment an instruction in manners and morals that was to be perfected in The Spectator...Addison contributed some 46 papers and collaborated on several others, but the great bulk of the 271 issues were by Steel himself..." - Encyclopedia Britannica online.
Joseph Addison (1672-1719), “one of the most eminent of English authors.” “During his lingering decay he sent for a young nobleman of very irregular life and of loose opinions to attend him; and when the latter, with great tenderness, requested to receive his last injunctions, Mr Addison told him, ‘I have sent for you that you may see how a Christian can die.’” – M’Clintock & Strong.
