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Richard Steele Eight volumes, London, 1812
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The Spectator Joseph Addison
Richard Steele Eight volumes, London, 1812
$3,250
£2,429.46
€2,802.43
CA$4,550
A$4,807.83
CHF 2,585.68
MX$57,558.68
NOK 32,395.51
SEK 29,669.58
DKK 20,930.91
About the Item
The Spectator
Joseph Addison
Richard Steele
Eight volumes, London, 1812
Contemporary full calf with gilt tooling
A distinguished Regency-era edition of one of the most important works in the history of English literature. The Spectator, first published in London between 1711 and 1714, is widely regarded as the foundation of the modern essay and of serious literary journalism. Through its elegant, witty, and deeply perceptive essays, Joseph Addison and Richard Steele shaped the prose style, moral philosophy, and social thought of the English-speaking world.
This handsome 1812 edition was produced at the height of the great age of English bookmaking. The eight volumes are bound in contemporary full calf, richly decorated with gilt tooling, raised bands, and floral panel designs, creating a visually striking and unified presence on the shelf. Such bindings were intended for the libraries of gentlemen, scholars, and country houses, where literature, taste, and craftsmanship were held in equal regard.
Printed on durable rag paper and issued well before the era of mass-produced Victorian reprints, this edition represents the finest tradition of early-nineteenth-century book production. The complete eight-volume set preserves The Spectator in its classical form, encompassing hundreds of essays on society, manners, philosophy, politics, and the arts—texts that profoundly influenced figures ranging from Samuel Johnson to Benjamin Franklin.
Elegant, scholarly, and historically significant, this set stands as both a cornerstone of English literary culture and a beautiful object of Regency craftsmanship. It is equally at home in a refined private library, a university collection, or a curated design interior.
- Dimensions:Height: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Width: 4 in (10.16 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Style:Other (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1812
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Woodbury, CT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10234248439732
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