First edition, first issue of both parts in contemporary bindings

DEFOE, Daniel.

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner O written by Himself. / The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; being the Second and Last Part of his Life, and of the Strange Surprizing Account.

London: Printed for W. Taylor, 1719.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002908

Two parts in two volumes (without the third part of 1720). 8vo (182 x118 mm; 194 x 121 mm). [4], 364, [4]; [8], 373, [11] pp. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Crusoe by Clark & Pine facing title-page in first volume, folding engraved map of the world in second volume, 4 terminal pages of publisher's advertisements in first volume, 11 pages in second volume, woodcut initials and headpieces, woodcut device on second title-page. Bound in disparate but fairly well matching contemporary calf, spines with 5 raised bands gilt in compartments and with gilt lettering pieces, first volume with marbled endpapers and red-dyed edges, second volume with panelled boards and red-sprinkled edges. First volume with minor repair to head of spine, second volume with hinges split (boards securely fixed at inner hinges), extremities worn, boards rubbed, corners bumped. Set preserved in custom-made slipcase. Internally quite crisp and clean with only very little browning (preliminaries and final gatherings in first volume somewhat stronger), occasional faint dampstaining and short closed tears (without loss) to lower margin of first volume and a small print flaw in lower outer corner of leaf Y1 affecting a few letters, occasional minor spotting and finger soiling to both volumes. Provenance: Eliza ? (cancelled illegible ink signature on title-page of first volume), Thore Virgin (signature dated 25.7.1951 on front-pastedown and small ink stamp to first flyleaf of second volume); John Rolle, baron of Stevenstone (armorial bookplate to pastedown of second volume). An outstanding set of the rare first edition of both parts in contemporary bindings and with the advertisements present in each part. ----

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE OF EACH PART. The points according to Hutchins are as follows: the first part has a colon after "London" on title-page (first state); the first page of the preface ends with "Men" and catchword "always," continuing with the words "always apyly" on the verso (first state), Z4r with the words "Pilot" and "Portuguese" correctly spelled (second state); 12-line errata on Aa6v. The engraved frontispiece in first part in strong and clear impression, signatures B-U (pp. 1-304) printed on heavier, better paper than the rest of the part (both points characteristic of first edition copies according to Hutchins). The second part is Hutchins' first variant (B1) with A4v of the preface blank and "FARTHFR" for "FARTHER" on B1r.
"Robinson Crusoe has long since been more widely read in the abridged versions for young people, in which his breast-beating and philosophizing are less prominent than the footprint in the sand, Man Friday, the threatening savages, and the endless ingenuity and contrivance that make the hero's island life tolerable. But the pious sections of the book are also relevant in the religious inferences drawn by Crusoe from his communings with nature" (Printing and the Mind of Man).
The first edition of the first part appeared on April 25, 1719, and was an immediate success. Four editions appeared during the same year.
According to Hutchins, there is no priority given for the three known states (or variants) of printing. There are copies known that have the preliminary leaf verso with the words "always apply" correctly spelled but the leaf Z4 recto with the words "Pilot" and "Portuguese" incorrectly spelled "Pilate" and "Portugnese" respectively, and vice versa.
PMM 180; Hutchins 52, 97; Moore 412, 417; Grolier/English 41; Rothschild 775 (vol. 1 only). - Visit our website for additional images and information. 1st Printing.

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