The Works

T H E

W O R K S

OF

TOBIAS SMOLLETT, M.D.

WITH

MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE

IN EIGHT VOLUMES

L O N D O N :

Printed for B. LAW, J. JOHNSON, C. DILLEY, G. G. and J. ROBINSON et al . . .

1797

DESCRIPTION

(ii) + cxcvi + 245pp + (ii)

(ii) + xxvi + 570pp + (ii)

(ii) + xvi + 499pp + (ii)

(ii) + xvi + 511pp + (ii)

(ii) + 491pp + (ii)

(ii) + 454pp + (ii)

(ii) + 452pp + (ii)

(ii) + 394pp + (ii)

Books measure 210mm x 135mm approximately.

Beautifully bound by Cross "Binders to the King" (see below) in half tan calf over gilt-ruled marbled boards. Spine with five gilt-ruled raised bands with intricate lattice decoration in gilt to compartments, russet title and volume labels, and date to foot of spine. Plain end-papers and paste-downs. All page edges lightly coloured. Portrait frontispiece engraving to title page verso of vol I. Various further small illustrations throughout.

"Cross, Binders to the King (or Queen)". Cross provided distinguished and elaborate high quality bindings, mainly to important collections. There are 117 books signed by Cross in the Royal Collections, most of them at Sandringham. This set of volumes must have been bound after Edward VII became King in 1901 and 1910 when Cross bindings ceased. Cross are referenced in the British Library Binding Index, with many Cross bindings also housed in the British Library.

CONDITION

Very good condition overall with all bindings holding quite firm indeed. A few minor scuffs and surface scratches, some light rubbing of hinges to a few volumes, and with very minor cracking to front lower hinge of vol 3 and front upper hinge of vol 4. Small patch of marbled paper missing to front board of vol 4. Small loss of leather to upper corner of rear board of vol 5. A few small nibbles of leather to top of vol 3 spine. Internally, the pages are very clean with light uniform browning, a few spots and foxing marks more so to end-papers, title pages, frontispiece and some engravings. The odd blemish or spot here and there.

A well-presented and handsome set of Smollett's works in wonderful bindings.

Please refer to the photo images for a clear indication of both condition and content.

INTERESTING

Tobias George Smollett (1721 to 1771) was a Scottish poet and author. He was best known for his picaresque novels, such as The Adventures of Roderick Random (1748), The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1751) and The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771), which influenced later novelists, including Charles Dickens.

He was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he qualified as a surgeon. His career in medicine came second to his literary ambitions; in 1739 he went to London to seek fortune as a dramatist. Unsuccessful, he obtained a commission as a naval surgeon on HMS Chichester and travelled to Jamaica, where he settled down for several years.

Smollett's first published work was a poem about the Battle of Culloden entitled "The Tears of Scotland", but it was The Adventures of Roderick Random which made his name. His poetry was described as "delicate, sweet and murmurs as a stream." The Adventures of Roderick Random was modelled on Le Sage's Gil Blas and published in 1748.