Anecdotes, Observations, and Characters, of Books and Men

London: W. H. Carpenter, 1820. First edition. Leather. Good. 8.5" by 5.5". None. A smart first edition of this collection of humorous and insightful anecdotes, previously held in the library of American book collected Robert Borthwick Adam. First edition. With a portrait frontispiece. A humorous collection of literary and historical anecdotes, featuring anecdotes on Queen Anne, Buonaparte, Isaac Newton, Alexander Pope, and more. Collected from the conversation of Mr. Pope and other eminent persons of his time. Written by Joseph Spence, an English historian, literary scholar and anecdotist, best known for this collection which has become an invaluable resource for historians of eighteenth-century English literature. With notes and a life of the author by Samuel Weller Singer, an English author and scholar on the work of William Shakespeare. Previously held in the library of Robert Borthwick Adam, an American retailer and book collector who co-founded the department store Adam, Meldrum & Whiting. In the original half calf binding with marbled boards. Externally, smart with rubbing and light bumping to the extremities. Light fading to the spine with a split to the spine label. Light cracking to the joints with marks to the boards. Hinges starting but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean with the odd spot. Further spotting and light age toning to the first and last few pages. Previous owner's bookplate to the front pastedown. Good