DescriptionProperty from the Library of John M. Schiff
[Defoe, Daniel]The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner ... London: Printed for W. Taylor 1719 — The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Being the Second and Last Part of his Life ... London: Printed for W. Taylor 1719 — Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: With His Vision of the Angelick World. London: Printed for W. Taylor 1720
3 vols, 8vo (180 x 113 mm). Title-pages, engraved frontispiece of Robinson Crusoe in first volume, folding engraved map of the world in second volume, folding engraved plate of Crusoe's island in third volume, advertisements at end of each volume as called for, woodcut vignettes on titles in second and third volume, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, woodcut initials; very mild browning, restoration to the last leaf of volume one touching a few letters. Uniformly bound in full red morocco by Rivière, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and third compartments gilt lettered, others with repeat gilt decoration, boards with triple gilt rules, inside dentelles gilt, all edges gilt; offsetting from bookplate onto front free endpaper in first volume, offsetting onto endpapers from dentelles in all, volumes one and three with front hinges cracked, volumes one and two with upper boards cleanly detached but present.
A set of first editions of Defoe's celebrated masterpiece, which initiated the entirely new literary form of the novel—with its revolutionary power both to "instruct and delight"—and has since become embedded in the world's cultural consciousness. Written with a keen eye to a contemporary taste for travel and the exotic largely inspired by Britain's burgeoning colonial power, the novel was an immediate and massive success both among the greatest thinkers of the age and the reading public, passing through four editions in its first year. It is second only to the Bible in number of translations.
"The romance of Crusoe's adventures, the figure of civilized man fending for himself on a desert island, has made an imperishable impression on the mind of man ... much of modern science fiction is basically Crusoe's island changed to a planet" (PMM Exhibition Catalogue, 1963, no. 325). According to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Defoe was "he, who makes me forget my specific class, character, & circumstances raises me into the Universal Man - Now this is Defoe's Excellence, you become a Man while you read."
REFERENCE:Hutchins, pp.52-65, pp.97-112, pp.121-128; Furbank and Owens 201, 204, 210; Moore 412, 417, 436
PROVENANCE:Mortimer L. Schiff (red morocco bookplate to pastedown)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.Saleroom NoticePlease note, there is restoration to the last leaf of volume one, touching a few letters. Please also note that the upper board of volume one has become detached, and the leaves once partially conjoined by adhesive are no longer adhered to one another.
DescriptionProperty from the Library of John M. Schiff
[Defoe, Daniel]The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner ... London: Printed for W. Taylor 1719 — The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Being the Second and Last Part of his Life ... London: Printed for W. Taylor 1719 — Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: With His Vision of the Angelick World. London: Printed for W. Taylor 1720
3 vols, 8vo (180 x 113 mm). Title-pages, engraved frontispiece of Robinson Crusoe in first volume, folding engraved map of the world in second volume, folding engraved plate of Crusoe's island in third volume, advertisements at end of each volume as called for, woodcut vignettes on titles in second and third volume, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, woodcut initials; very mild browning, restoration to the last leaf of volume one touching a few letters. Uniformly bound in full red morocco by Rivière, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and third compartments gilt lettered, others with repeat gilt decoration, boards with triple gilt rules, inside dentelles gilt, all edges gilt; offsetting from bookplate onto front free endpaper in first volume, offsetting onto endpapers from dentelles in all, volumes one and three with front hinges cracked, volumes one and two with upper boards cleanly detached but present.
A set of first editions of Defoe's celebrated masterpiece, which initiated the entirely new literary form of the novel—with its revolutionary power both to "instruct and delight"—and has since become embedded in the world's cultural consciousness. Written with a keen eye to a contemporary taste for travel and the exotic largely inspired by Britain's burgeoning colonial power, the novel was an immediate and massive success both among the greatest thinkers of the age and the reading public, passing through four editions in its first year. It is second only to the Bible in number of translations.
"The romance of Crusoe's adventures, the figure of civilized man fending for himself on a desert island, has made an imperishable impression on the mind of man ... much of modern science fiction is basically Crusoe's island changed to a planet" (PMM Exhibition Catalogue, 1963, no. 325). According to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Defoe was "he, who makes me forget my specific class, character, & circumstances raises me into the Universal Man - Now this is Defoe's Excellence, you become a Man while you read."
REFERENCE:Hutchins, pp.52-65, pp.97-112, pp.121-128; Furbank and Owens 201, 204, 210; Moore 412, 417, 436
PROVENANCE:Mortimer L. Schiff (red morocco bookplate to pastedown)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.Saleroom NoticePlease note, there is restoration to the last leaf of volume one, touching a few letters. Please also note that the upper board of volume one has become detached, and the leaves once partially conjoined by adhesive are no longer adhered to one another.
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