ID 870830
Lot 153 | [DEFOE, Daniel (1660-1731)]
Estimate value
£ 7 000 – 10 000
A Journal of the Plague Year: being Observations or Memorials, of the most remarkable Occurrences, as well publick as private, which happened in London during the last Great Visitation in 1665. London: Printed for E. Nutt, J. Roberts, A. Dodd and J. Graves, 1722.
First edition of ‘Defoe's most under-appreciated great novel’ (ODNB). A Journal of the Plague Year, written in the early 18th century but concerning the plague of 1665, is regarded as one of the finest accounts of an epidemic written in English. ‘H. F., the protagonist, lives in London throughout the plague, and he is torn between fleeing and staying, between pragmatic, even crass economic motives, and spiritual impulses, and, even more importantly, is obsessed with determining the reasons individuals get the plague’. Rothschild 778.
Octavo (188 x 115mm). Half-title, woodcut ornaments and head- and tailpieces (washed and pressed, light staining in first few leaves, occasional marginal soiling). Bound by Hayday in blind-stamped and panelled brown morocco, red edges (wear at extremities, slight sunning to upper cover). Provenance: ‘Starbuck, London’ (19th-century inscription on endpaper).
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
| Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
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| Auction house category: | Medicine & science, Printed books |
| Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
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| Auction house category: | Medicine & science, Printed books |
| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
| Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
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![[DEFOE, Daniel (1660-1731)] - photo 1 [DEFOE, Daniel (1660-1731)] - photo 1](/cache/lot/870830/ca335773f4b13b376b8036b5b0d7589e_1670972400-80x80_center_50.jpg)
