JUNIUS. STAT NOMINIS UMBRA

London: Printed for Henry Sampson Woodfall..., 1772.. Two volumes. [2],xxxii,208; [2],356pp. Contemporary calf, boards gilt ruled, spine gilt. Hinges cracking, spine ends slightly chipped, boards rubbed, corners worn. Internally clean. Good plus. First issue of the first authorized edition, without the Table of Contents and Index sections added later, per Lowndes. The original collected edition of the letters, which were first published in the London PUBLIC ADVERTISER from Jan. 21, 1769 to Jan. 21, 1772 under the pseudonym of "Junius" (possibly Sir Philip Francis). "...'Junius' poured brilliantly slanderous invective upon Tory-minded English ministers, especially the Duke of Grafton, for a series of 'inconsistent measures' which allegedly ruined England and drove the colonies 'into excesses little short of rebellion.' Vehement, lucid, frequently reprinted in English and colonial newspapers, the letters were polemical masterpieces with such extraordinary knowledge and appreciation of contemporary colonial opinion that they lent moral support to the early revolutionary cause. 'Junius' opposed the Tea Duty, but upheld the legality of the Stamp Act, and prophesied (Dec. 19, 1769) that the colonies aimed at independence" - DAH. Sabin calls this the best and the original collected edition. SABIN 36906. ESTC T1830. DAH III, p.190. LOWNDES V, p.1241. REESE, REVOLUTIONARY HUNDRED 14.