An Essay on the Study of Literature. Written Originally in French, By Edward Gibbon, Jun. Esq; Now first translated into English.
by GIBBON, Edward
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt. London. 1764. First edition in English of Gibbon's first work. 8vo. [8], 168pp. including 4pp. of publishers' list of books. Early nineteenth century engr. portrait of Gibbon very neatly attached to blank opposite title page and gives the appearance of portrait frontis. Two original blanks bound in before title page. Bound in contemporary full brown calf gilt, rebacked with original spine laid down, top compartment and part of bottom compartment replaced in modern calf, inner hinges reinforced, new e/ps. Corners of bds. worn. Marbled edges and e/ps. Outer margin sl. cropped, pages measure 18.4 x 11.2cm. Additional frontis. lightly offset to title. Contents remarkably fresh and clean. Norton 6. Though originally published in French in 1761, Gibbon wrote most of this essay in 1758 while only 21. The translator has never been identified but was probably a professional hired by Becket. Gibbon was not happy with it though it was advertised as being prepared 'under the inspection of the author'. He states, "had my feelings been more exquisite, I might have wept over its blunders and baldness." Also from his journal, January 11th, 1763. " From thence I went to Becket, paid him his bill (fifty-four pounds) and gave him back his translation. It must be printed, tho' very indifferent. My comfort is, that my misfortune is not an uncommon one." One of the 'best' mistakes, quoted by Norton, is the rendering of "si la physique a ses Buffons" by "if Physics hath its buffoons."
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Details
- Bookseller
- Addyman Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 7777
- Title
- An Essay on the Study of Literature. Written Originally in French, By Edward Gibbon, Jun. Esq; Now first translated into English.
- Author
- GIBBON, Edward
- Book Condition
- Used
- Date Published
- Printed for T. Becket and P. A.
- Keywords
- PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS and SOCIETY 18th century Gibbon
- Bookseller catalogs
- PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS and SOCIETY;
Terms of Sale
Addyman Books
All books are First edition, printed in London, unless otherwise stated. We offer a changing selection of old/out-of-print/remaindered books in a wide range of subjects. Every effort has been made to describe the books as accurately as possible, but any items ordered can be returned if not as described within a 7 day period. European Union customers have 14 days.
About the Seller
Addyman Books
Biblio member since 2006
Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire
About Addyman Books
Addyman Books is based in Hay-on-Wye, the book capital of the world, with almost 30 bookshops in the town, nestled in the Black Mountains of Wales. We have been established since 1986 and have three shops, Addyman Books, Addyman Annexe and Murder & Mayhem. Large general stock. Murder & Mayhem specialises in Detective Fiction, True Crime and Horror.
Glossary
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- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Edges
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- SL.
- slight
- E.P.
- The double leaves bound into a book at the front and rear after ...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- BDS
- Common term for the covers of a hardbound book. The term 'boards' refers to the thick cardboard under the paper or cloth...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- Offset
- A technique of printing where the inked image or text is ...