The Life of Samuel Johnson Value Guide

This early 19th-century two-volume set of James Boswell's 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' represents a cornerstone of English literature and private library history. Published between 1820 and 1840, these volumes are highly collectible for their classic tree calf leather bindings and their status as the definitive biography of the great lexicographer.

What Is The Life of Samuel Johnson Worth?

The typical price range for The Life of Samuel Johnson is $150 - $165 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the leather, specifically looking for cracking at the hinges or wear to the gilt labels.
• Completeness of the set, as the $150-$165 value range assumes both volumes are present and intact.
• The quality of the tree calf marbling and the preservation of the decorative gilt spine elements.
• Provenance or the presence of original bookplates from notable 19th-century private libraries.

How to Identify The Life of Samuel Johnson?

• Check for the distinctive tree calf leather pattern on the covers, a hallmark of early Victorian bookbinding.
• Verify the presence of gilt-stamped labels and decorative tooling on the spine consistent with 1820-1840 UK production.
• Confirm the two-volume format and early 19th-century publication dates on the title pages.
• Look for period-appropriate foxing or aging on the paper stock used in the United Kingdom during this era.

History of The Life of Samuel Johnson

First published in 1791, Boswell's biography of the great lexicographer Samuel Johnson is widely considered the greatest biography ever written in the English language. This edition features traditional period tree calf leather binding with gilt labels, representing the standard for private libraries of the early Victorian era.