8 volumes. 9½x7½, 19th century full sraight-grain brown morocco with gilt-roll borders, spines tooled in blind, lettered in gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. First Edition. Important and justly famous gathing of pamphlets, tracts and curiosa. Thomas Osborne, having purchased the library of the late Edward Harney, 2nd Earl of Oxford, commission Samuel Johnson and William Oldys, who had been Lord Oxford's secretary, to catalogue the library. It has been thought that Johnson, who had found many of the items which he catalogued particularly interesting, suggested to Osborne the idea of the Harleian Miscellany. Johnson himself wrote the proposals and the introduction and may have assisted with the selection of the contents, though Oldys probably undertook most of the later editing. The introduction in the present set is in its first issue - it does not have the title "An Essay on The Origin and Importance of Small Tracts and Fugitive Pieces." With the armorial bookplates of Owen Williams.
Heading:
Author: Johnson, Samuel & William Oldys, editors
Place Published: London
Publisher Name: T. Osborne
Date Published: 1744-1746

Spines darkened with minor rubbing, ends chipped, joints scuffed and tender, a few cracking, corners bumped; occasional light foxing within, very good or better condition.