The Rambler - photo 1
The Rambler - photo 2

The Rambler

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$ 7 560
Auction dateClassic
06.10.2022 12:00UTC -04:00
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CHRISTIE'S
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USA, New York
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ID 813807
Lot 96 | The Rambler
The Rambler

Samuel Johnson, 1751

[JOHNSON, Samuel (1709-1784).] The Rambler. London: J. Payne and J. Bouquet, 1751 [but 1750-1752].



A tall copy, from the library of Johnson’s friend Sir Robert Chambers, including all 208 issues. Bound in attractive red morocco, probably in Bengal. Johnson's first periodical was printed by Edward Cave and issued every Tuesday and Saturday for a two-year period; the 208 numbers, consisting of a sheet and a half, sold at 2d. each. It included a few outside contributors, including Samuel Richardson and Elizabeth Carter, but the venture was otherwise entirely Johnson's, and despite slow initial sales a tenth edition was reached before his death. For all his tendency to procrastinate, Johnson kept his deadlines, and No. 134 actually took idleness and procrastination as its theme—according to Mrs Thrale, it was "hastily composed in Sir Joshua Reynolds' parlour, while the boy waited to carry it to the press."



The range of literature Johnson drew on in The Rambler was enormous, extending from Greek aphorists and Ecclesiastes, through Renaissance humanists, to the entire English literature of the 17th century. Only Johnson could have so successfully combined the 18th-century periodical form with the 17th-century sermon, or have expressed such a deeply pessimistic outlook with such a "tonic effect" on his readers. The present copy is from the library of Johnson's contemporary and friend, English jurist Sir Robert Chambers. The red morocco gilt binding dates from c.1795 when Chambers was Chief Justice of Bengal and it is similar to other late 18th century Indian bindings. This set includes all 208 issues, nos. 1 and 109 are reprints, as usual in collected sets; no. 17 is second state. Issues 174 and 208 are misdated as 15 November and 17 March, respectively. Bate Samuel Johnson, New York, 1977, pp. 289-98; Courtney & Smith, pp. 30-31; Fleeman 50.3R/1a, Rothschild 1234.



Two volumes, folio (295 x 170mm). (Long repaired tear extending through text of page 1, several repaired tears at margins or gutters, a little worming affecting a few words in nos. 163-164, otherwise some short closed tears or minor losses at margins). Contemporary red morocco gilt, all edges gilt (spine a little faded, extremities gently rubbed). Provenance: Sir Robert Chambers, 1737-1803, jurist and friend of Dr. Johnson (bookplate, crest on binding) – Sotheby’s, 15 March 1954, lot 97.

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