Conversations of James Northcote, Esq., R.A., William Hazlitt — 1st Edition

£235.00

Conversations of James Northcote, Esq., R.A., William Hazlitt — 1st Edition

Name: Conversations of James Northcote, Esq., R.A., William Hazlitt — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4396
Price: 235.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [iv], 328.

Condition Report: Good. The book remains in its original blue-grey paper boards with a brown backing to the spine. The fragile paper spine is heavily worn and cracked, with severe chipping that has resulted in the partial loss of the printed title label. The boards exhibit moderate rubbing, minor surface marking, and bumping to the corners, typical of early nineteenth-century publisher's bindings. Despite the external wear, the binding structure remains intact and reasonably tight. The page edges are entirely uncut and untrimmed, displaying age-related darkening and dustiness. Internally, there is foxing and browning to the preliminary leaves, most heavily affecting the frontispiece portrait and title page.

Catalogue Note: This 1830 first edition (Keynes 99) is highly desirable for retaining its original publisher's boards and completely uncut text block. This state is increasingly scarce on the open market, as most copies were subsequently cropped and rebound in leather. The volume is complete with its half-title and is illustrated with a finely engraved frontispiece portrait of James Northcote in his eighty-second year, executed by T. Wright after a drawing by A. Wivell.

A significant feature of this specific copy is its provenance. It is accompanied by an original letter addressed to James Northcote from James Carrick Moore, a prominent surgeon and the brother of the celebrated military commander Sir John Moore. Moore notably assumed the surname Carrick-Moore in 1821 after inheriting a country estate from a relative named Carrick.

In 1826, the acclaimed essayist William Hazlitt began recording his wide-ranging conversations with the elderly James Northcote, a distinguished painter and one of the last surviving members of Samuel Johnson's legendary circle. Published in 1830 (just weeks before Hazlitt’s death) this collection captures the candid, sometimes venomous, and always fascinating thoughts of the octogenarian artist. Blending Northcote's sharp tongue with Hazlitt's masterful prose, the work caused a sensation upon its initial serialisation and remains an indispensable, intimate window into the vibrant artistic and literary scene of Georgian England.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: William Hazlitt

Book Publisher: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 328

Book Publication Year: 1830

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: T. Wright / A. Wivell

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.