By Various
London   John Sharpe
7" by 5"
A wonderful collection of these classic works. Containing articles from great British newspapers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and compiled by John Sharpe.
By Various

1804 The British Classics

London   John Sharpe
7" by 5"
A wonderful collection of these classic works. Containing articles from great British newspapers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and compiled by John Sharpe.
£475.00
: 3kgs / : SET11-C-1

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Description

Illustrated, Leather Binding

Fourteen volumes of the original thirty-four within The British Classics collection. All works are complete within themselves, The Tatler in four volumes; The Spectator in eight volumes; and The Guardian in two volumes. Illustrated throughout with frontispiece engravings of the newspaper editors, and contributors in each volume, and engraved title pages. Each volume also benefits from a further five beautifully engraved plate in each. The original Tatler was founded in 1709 by Richard Steele, who used the nom de plume "Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire", the first such consistently adopted journalistic persona. Steele's idea was to publish the news and gossip heard in London coffeehouses, hence the title, and seemingly, from the opening paragraph, to leave the subject of politics to the newspapers, while presenting Whiggish views and correcting middle-class manners, while instructing "these Gentlemen, for the most part being Persons of strong Zeal, and weak Intellects...what to think." To assure complete coverage of local gossip, a reporter was placed in each of the city's popular coffeehouses, or at least such were the datelines: accounts of manners and mores were datelined from White's; literary notes from Will's; notes of antiquarian interest were dated from the Grecian Coffee House; and news items from St. James’s Coffee House. The Spectator was a daily publication founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in England after they met at Charterhouse School; it lasted from 1711 to 1712. The paper appeared thrice weekly for six months, and these papers when collected to form eight volumes. The stated goal of The Spectator was "to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality...to bring philosophy out of the closets and libraries, schools and colleges, to dwell in clubs and assemblies, at tea-tables and coffeehouses" (No. 10). It recommended that its readers "consider it part of the tea-equipage" (No. 10) and not leave the house without reading it in the morning. One of its functions was to provide readers with educated, topical talking points, and advice in how to carry on conversations and social interactions in a polite manner. In keeping with the values of Enlightenment philosophies of their time, the authors of The Spectator promoted family, marriage, and courtesy. The Guardian was a newspaper published in London from 12 March to 1 October 1713. It was also founded by Richard Steele, and featured contributions from Joseph Addison, Thomas Tickell, Alexander Pope and Ambrose Philips. Sir Richard Steele was an Irish writer and politician, remembered as the founder of these three influential British newspapers.

Condition

In original diced calf bindings with gilt designs to the spines. Externally, rubbing to the boards and spines, with wear to extremities. Slight cracking to front and rear joint of all volumes, and several hinges are slightly strained. Armorial bookplate to the front pastedown of each volume. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean The occasional spot throughout each volume, which is heavier to the first and last pages.

Good

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