Samuel Johnson — The Idler

London, T. Davies; J. Newbery; T. Payne, 1767. Leather. The third edition of Samuel Johnson's popular and influential essays published under 'The Idler', complete in two volumes. The third edition, complete in two volumes.  With additional essays.  In a contemporary full calf binding, with the original endpapers and blanks.  Comprising 103 popular essays, all but a handful written by Samuel Johnson. Includes 'Uncertainty of Friendship', 'Scheme for News-writers', 'Art of Advertising', 'Books fall into neglect', 'False Criticisms on Painting' and many more.  Johnson's biographer James Boswell recalled that Johnson wrote some of the essays in The Idler "as hastily as an ordinary letter", though they were so popular that other publications began reprinting them without permission. One of the essays titled 'Imprisonment of Debtors' appeared as a replacement for the essay 'The Vulture', which was omitted once the work took book form for its provocative anti-war satire. This edition issued with three additional essays: 'Essay on Epitaphs'; 'Dissertation on the Epitaphs written by Pope'; and 'Bravery of the English Common Soldiers&apos.  With the armorial bookplate of Francis Enys to the front paste downs, of the historic Enys Estate in the northern outskirts of Penryn, Cornwall. The Enys family have lived at Enys since the reign of Edward I and in 2013 the house was opened to the public for the first time. Francis was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1876 and preceded over the estate whilst his brothers in New Zealand sent back exotic plants that shaped the estate's fine gardens.  In a contemporary full calf binding, with the original endpapers and blanks. Externally, joints are cracked and hinges are subsequently tender. Rubbing to the spines, resulting in losses to the heads and tails. Losses to the calf to the front boards, more notably to the front board of Vol II. With the armorial bookplate of one Francis Enys to the front paste downs. Internally, Vol I M6 and M7 working loose at foot, otherwise firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with marginal toning and the odd spot, more so to the first and last few pages. Contemporary ownership inscription to Vol I title page of 'Saml. Enys&apos. Good . Ill.: None. Good .