The Spectator. 8 volumes (complete set)

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~FULL PAGINATION: 324, (12) + 336, (12) + 314, (10) + 303, (9) + 301, (11) + 305, (19) + 333, (13) + 300, (12)pp. ~Eighteenth century bindings in full tan speckled calf, low raised bands and ornate gilt decor to spines. One red gilt and one black gilt label per spine. Gilt decor to board edges, worn. Wear to bases and tops of spines, mild wear to spine edges and corners. 8vos (10.5 x 18cm). Hinges sound in all vols. All edges speckled red, top edges darkened. Attractive eighteenth century armorial bookplates to inside front boards of vols 1-4 and 6-8, with 'Jeffryes' in ornate calligraphic script. The same bookplate is clearly pasted onto the inside front board of vol. 5, but is covered with the pastedown: a mistake in binding for an early or original owner? Owner's signature in red ink to front free endpaper of vol. 1, dated 1885. Portrait vignette to each title page and frontis signed 'F. Hayman inv. et del', 'C. Grignion Sculp.' per vol. (F. Hayman, 1708-1776, founding member of Royal Academy); Charles Grignion the Elder (1721-1810), British engraver and draughtsman. Offset browning to endpapers, minor scattered foxing throughout. Indexes to all vols. No dates to title pages; ESTC suggests 1750 for this edition, which has catchword 'pro-' on first page of dedication, vol. I (ESTC T97951). An appealing early edition of this era-defining British periodical, founded in 1711 and 'one of the most famous in the annals of publishing' (ODNB). ~Robust packaging. All UK orders trackable, others on request. Size: c. 300 pp. per vol. Seller Inventory # KK4239

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