The Idler, a presentation copy - photo 1
The Idler, a presentation copy - photo 2

The Idler, a presentation copy

Sold
$ 23 940
Auction dateClassic
06.10.2022 12:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 813647
Lot 102 | The Idler, a presentation copy
The Idler, a presentation copy

Samuel Johnson, 1767

JOHNSON, Samuel (1709-1784). The Idler. London: printed for T. Davies, J. Newbury, and T. Payne, 1767.



Presentation copy, inscribed by Johnson: “To dear Miss Eccles from the Authour,” on the verso of title in volume one. "Miss Eccles" may well be the daughter of one "Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman," who appears in The Life as attending the first important dinner hosted by Boswell for Johnson. Boswell wrote: "I had as my guests this evening [Wednesday, 6 July 1763] at the Mitre tavern, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. Thomas Davies, Mr. Eccles, an Irish gentleman, for whose agreeable company I was obliged to Mr. Davies, and the Reverend Mr. John Ogilvie, who was desirous of being in company with my illustrious friend, while I, in my turn, was proud to have the honour of shewing one of my countrymen upon what easy terms Johnson permitted me to live with him…" If the present copy is inscribed to a daughter of Mr Eccles, then it serves as a unique record of that inaugural literary dinner that occurred less than two months after Boswell and Johnson met for the first time. Inscribed presentation copies of The Idler are rare; RBH records only one other copy in the past fifty years. It was from the Prescott Collection and inscribed to the wife of William Strahan. In 2000 a copy from the library of William Foyle given by Johnson to Esther Burney was sold, however the inscription was in Burney's hand. This third edition of The Idler included additional essays comprising Johnson’s “Essay on Epitaphs,” "Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope,” and “Bravery of the English Common Soldiers.” Courtney & Smith pp. 83-84.



Two volumes, 12mo (170 x 95mm). (A little minor soiling to vol. 2 title page.) Contemporary calf, red morocco spine labels (rebacked retaining original labels, corners renewed). Custom full morocco clamshell box. Provenance: Miss Eccles (authorial inscription) – William Rees-Mogg, Esq. (his sale, Sotheby’s New York, 8 & 9 March 1971, lot 247).

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
06.10.2022 – 06.10.2022
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.