Life of Richard Savage, Son of the Earl Rivers, the Fourth Edition, To which are added, The Lives of Sir Francis Drake, and Admiral Blake
by the Author of the Rambler [Johnson, Samuel]
London: F. Newberry, etc., 1769. 4th ed.
298 pp.; 17 × 10.5 × 3 cm
Hardcover (good)

Handsome early edition of Johnson's biography of the London poet Savage, an early work and the first literary biography by the author (credited here only as "the Author of the Rambler"). This fourth addition is appended by biographies of Sir Francis Drake and Admiral Robert Blake. This copy, in good condition, has been nicely rebound in a reconstructed brown calf-leather period binding. The spine leather with bands and gilt titles is more recent, but the original calf-leather covers have been re-laid over the original boards (bumped and rounded with wear). Overall, a very handsome antique rebinding. The interior is good. No obscured type, and some even, light tanning a little scattered foxing to the rag paper. Lacking paste-down, free end papers, and fly-leaves to the front and rear: the sheets begin with the title page. Two pages of publisher's advertisements at rear. A charming early copy of an important work in the career of Dr. Johnson.