Prefaces, Biographical and Critical: To the Works of the English Poets. By Samuel Johnson. (Vol. VII of X) Ex-libris Bette Davis with her custom made bookplate by Johnson, Samuel - 1781

London: Printed by J. Nichols; for C. Bathurst, J. Buckland, W. Strahan, J. Rivington and sons, T. Davies [and 31 others in London], 1781. First Edition. Full Calf. [i-title page, ii Preface to Pope (half-title), 1-373pp. 15cm. 16mo. Full calf, raised bands w/ titles to compartments 2 (Series title), 3 (volume number in arabic numeral), 4 (year of publication), gilt decorations to compartments 1,5, &6. Book Condition: Good to very good with upper cover detached, wear at the spine ends, labels and stampings to spine quite worn, corners rounded with boards exposed. Binding very sound and interior bright and unmarred. A fantastic association ex libris Bette Davis with her custom made bookplate to front pastedown; a scottish terrier with text below reading Ex Libris Bette Davis in block lettering with drop shadow effect. The greatest of Johnson's "Lives" (Vol. VII-Pope) in the scarce true first edition from the library of Bette Davis considered by many to be the greatest American actress of all time. Later editions are entitled 'Lives of the English poets'.. Vols. 1-4 are dated 1779, vols. 5-10: 1781; vols. 5-10 list 28 additional booksellers in the imprint. Bookplate of Bette Davis, actor; her custom-made bookplate, designed with a Scottish Terrier above text reading Ex Libris Bette Davis in drop shadowed block lettering. 9.5cm x 6 cm. Artist's chop just below illustration but we can't identify it. Condition: Very near fine. Scarce to the trade (an image search will turn up what seem like dozens of examples of this plate giving the mistaken impression that examples offered by the trade are common...closer examination reveals few if any offered for sale.).