THE RAMBLER ...

Edinburgh: Printed by Sands, Murray and Cochran. Sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright and J. Yair, and the Other Booksellers, 1751-1753.. Eight volumes. Small octavo and 12mo (15 x 9 cm). Contemporary calf, raised bands, spines gilt extra, gilt labels. Some occasional tanning and foxing, spine extremities a bit chipped and cracked, otherwise good and sound. Second Edinburgh collected edition of the first four volumes, and the original Edinburgh editions of volumes five through eight. With the bookplates in each volume of Thomas Philip de Grey, Wrest Park, and Robert William Rogers. THE RAMBLER was Johnson's first paper and commenced publication on 20 March 1749/50 and concluded with issue 208 on 14 March 1752; the appearance of the early volumes of several of the various collected editions occurred while publication of the paper was ongoing. Johnson was personally responsible for the majority of the content, with the exception of scattered numbers with contributions by Hester Mulso, Catherine Talbot, Samuel Richardson, Elizabeth Carter, et al. The early Edinburgh collected editions were overseen by James Elphinston, with his versions/translation of the mottos collected at the end of each volume. Boswell complimented Elphinston's edition as '"unquestionably, the most accurate and beautiful edition of this work; and there being but a very small impression [of volumes 1-4], it is now become scarce, and sells at a very high price" - quoted by Courtney & Smith. FLEEMAN50.3R/3. COURTNEY & SMITH, p.32. ESTC N34523 (Vols 1-4, four locations in N.A.). ESTC T200671 (Vols 5-8, two locations in N.A.).