[Samuel Johnson] — The Rambler in Four Volumes

London, A. Millar, 1756. Leather. The complete fourth edition of Samuel Johnson's neoclassical periodical, 'The Rambler', the first to be issued in four volumes. A very scarce fourth edition of The Rambler, issued for the first time here in four volumes.Complete.Uniformly bound in full speckled calf, with red morocco spine labels. Retaining original blanks. The periodical of short papers by eminent English writer Samuel Johnson, published from 1750 to 1752 and totalling 208 articles. It was Johnson's most consistent and sustained work in the English language, written in elevated prose and discussing subjects such as morality, literature, society, politics, and religion. Written primarily for the newfound, rising middle-class of the 18th century, who sought social fluency within aristocratic social circles, Johnson used an elevated prose rather than colloquial, with copies written in essay form made cheaply available to this group. Uniformly bound in full speckled calf. Externally, volume 2 lacking spine label. Extremities are quite rubbed, with marks to the calf. Minor cracks to the heads of the joints of all but Vol 1, the front board of which is detached but present. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright, with offsetting to the first and last leaves and occasional scattered spots, concentrated to the first and last few leaves. Good Only . Ill.: None. Good Only .