Beschreibung:

A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland.
London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1775. 8vo(208 x 126 mm). Errata leaf at rear, D8 and U4 cancels. Modern black morocco, gilt, red morocco gilt lettering piece. Condition: title and first signature spotted, light intermittent foxing and faint dampstain to upper margin. Provenance: Hannah More (signature); from Pickering & Chatto, 1990. first edition, hannah more's copy with her ownership signature to title, "Han. More" and with a partial date, "Jan." beneath. The remainder of the date has been trimmed away by the rebinding. Hannah More become an intimate companion of Johnson's in his later years and a frequent visitor to his home. It was during one of these visits in 1774 that that present work was noted by her sister Sally, "Dr. Johnson's very own house, yes, Abyssinia's Johnson! Dictionary Johnson! Rambler's, Idler's Irene's Johnson! …the conversation turned upon a new work of his, just going to press (The Tour of the Hebrides) and his old friend Richardson." (See William Roberts Memoirs of Hannah More , 3rd edition, 1835, p. 49.) While the identification of the title More refers to seems to have been supplied by Roberts, it is almost certainly the present title, which was published in January, 1775. Presumably, Hannah would have obtained her copy as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the following January. And there of course exists the distinct possibility that the present is in fact a presentation, though one would think that such would be noted by More. Another inscription in More's hand on the title is of note, 'presented by her to/ Mary Frowd/ July 1828." Mary Frowd was a close friend to More, going so far as to moving in with the then elderly lady in order to care for her. Frowd was left over £1,000 in More's will as well as numerous personal items. Courtney, p. 122; Maggs 1038/ 127; Rothschild 1256.