ROBERT DODSLEY — THE OECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE
1795 — ONE OF 25 LARGE-PAPER COPIES
BOUND BY EDWARDS OF HALIFAX

London: Printed by T. Rickaby for S. and E. Harding, 1795.

A rare large-paper copy of the celebrated Harding illustrated edition of Robert Dodsley’s The Oeconomy of Human Life, bound in contemporary Etruscan calf by Edwards of Halifax.

This is the royal-octavo large-paper issue recorded by Lowndes as one of only 25 copies printed. It contains a mounted portrait of Dodsley engraved by S. F. Ravenet after Sir Joshua Reynolds and 49 engraved vignette illustrations by W. N. Gardiner and others after Sylvester Harding.

The book combines three distinct areas of collecting interest:

• One of 25 recorded large-paper copies
• A fine contemporary Etruscan binding by Edwards of Halifax
• An important eighteenth-century illustrated edition of Dodsley’s influential work

EDWARDS OF HALIFAX BINDING

Bound in contemporary full Etruscan calf by Edwards of Halifax, the celebrated Yorkshire family of booksellers and binders.

The covers are decorated in the firm’s characteristic neoclassical style, including:

• Acid-stained and stenciled calf
• Repeated black classical palmettes
• Gilt Greek-key border
• Metope-and-pentaglyph outer tooling
• Central radiating sunburst or fan devices
• Gilt board edges and inner dentelles
• Marbled endpapers
• All edges gilt

Etruscan calf was one of the Edwards firm’s most recognizable specialties. Their bindings employed acid staining and ornaments derived from ancient Greek and Etruscan decorative art. The combination of palmettes, Greek-key work, classical architectural borders and central devices seen here is characteristic of their work.

The book has been professionally rebacked, with much of the original decorated spine preserved and laid down. A red morocco lettering label has been retained or supplied during restoration.

THE LARGE-PAPER ISSUE

Royal 8vo. [22], 116 pages.

This is not the ordinary smaller-format 1795 edition. It is the separate large-paper reimpression, printed without signatures and traditionally recorded by Lowndes as limited to only 25 copies.

Bibliographical reference: ESTC N68125.

An early collector’s catalogue also describes this royal-octavo issue as one of 25 copies printed on large paper, illustrated with 49 vignettes by Gardiner and others after Harding, with some impressions found in proof state.

ILLUSTRATION

The volume includes:

• Mounted portrait of Robert Dodsley
• Portrait engraved by S. F. Ravenet after Sir Joshua Reynolds
• 49 engraved vignette illustrations
• Designs after Sylvester Harding
• Engravings by W. N. Gardiner and others

The refined neoclassical illustrations were specially suited to Dodsley’s series of moral and philosophical meditations.

AUTHOR AND HISTORICAL INTEREST

The Oeconomy of Human Life was first published anonymously and was for many years incorrectly associated with Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield. It is now accepted as the work of the poet, dramatist and influential London bookseller-publisher Robert Dodsley.

Presented as the translation of an ancient Indian manuscript discovered in China, the work offers concise reflections on wisdom, self-knowledge, family, social conduct, prosperity, adversity and mortality.

It became one of Dodsley’s greatest popular successes, appearing in numerous editions and translations. This elegantly illustrated 1795 production transformed the familiar text into a luxury gift and collector’s book.

COLLATION

Royal octavo.

[22], 116 pages.

Mounted engraved portrait of Robert Dodsley and 49 engraved vignettes.

The fly-title to Part I is bound before the introduction, an early binding or assembly irregularity also recorded in the previous dealer description of this copy.

The volume is complete for this edition.

PROVENANCE

Pencil ownership inscription of Leonard Pearce, dated 1972.

CONDITION

Good antiquarian condition, with an attractive and historically important original Edwards of Halifax decorative binding that has received substantial professional restoration.

Binding:

• Professionally rebacked
• Much of the original gilt spine laid down
• Red morocco spine label
• Boards rubbed, scuffed and faded
• Wear and losses at corners
• Repairs to corners and lower board
• Surface cracking and abrasions consistent with acid-decorated calf of this age
• Hinges presently secure
• Marbled endpapers and gilt dentelles preserved
• All edges gilt

Contents:

• Generally clean and well preserved
• Occasional spotting, toning and handling marks
• Some offsetting from the engraved illustrations
• Light soiling to the fore-edge of the leaves
• Mounted portrait present
• Part I fly-title bound before the introduction
• Pencil inscription of Leonard Pearce, 1972
• No modern ownership markings observed beyond those described

Please examine every photograph carefully. The photographs form an integral part of the condition report and show the binding, restoration, illustrations and interior.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Author: Robert Dodsley
Title: The Oeconomy of Human Life
Place: London
Printer: T. Rickaby
Publishers: S. and E. Harding
Date: 1795
Edition: First Harding illustrated edition; large-paper issue
Format: Royal octavo
Pagination: [22], 116 pages
Illustrations: Mounted portrait and 49 engraved vignettes
Binding: Contemporary Etruscan calf by Edwards of Halifax
Reference: ESTC N68125
Limitation: One of 25 copies printed on large paper, according to Lowndes

A highly desirable combination of a genuinely scarce large-paper illustrated edition and an original Edwards of Halifax Etruscan binding. Despite the restoration and external wear, it remains a visually impressive and bibliographically important example of late eighteenth-century English book production and decorative binding.