The History of England from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688. A new ed., with corrections and some additions. 8 vols.

Full contemporary Havana sheepskin, garnet and green title and volume numbers, spine with five bands and decorated with gilt fillets, a medallion portrait engraved by RAVENET after DONALDSON. gilt marked board edges and gilt lined turn-ins. a few worn corners, 2 worm spikes on a spine, worm work on the first half-guard, on the half-title and title, on the portrait and on the first pages of volume 1, else a handsome set. New edition of this history of England, the first having appeared in 1770. His massive History of England is a neglected masterpiece, which remained a best seller for more than a century" (Cannon, 497). Possessing "a distinct place in the literature of England, Hume's History was the first attempt at a comprehensive treatment of historic facts, the first to introduce the social and literary aspects of a nation's life as only second in importance to its political fortunes, and the first historical writing in an animated yet refined and polished style" (Britannica). Hume decided not to expand his history beyond the Stuarts, partly because he doubted whether he (or his readers) "could maintain partiality concerning recent events" (Jessop, 27). Altogether, Hume's History "promises ever to hold a prominent place in the front rank of English literature" (Allibone, 916).