Memoirs of the Forty-Five First Years of the Life of James Lackington, Bookseller

£35.00

Memoirs of the Forty-Five First Years of the Life of James Lackington, Bookseller

Name: Memoirs of the Forty-Five First Years of the Life of James Lackington, Bookseller
Brand: Broadhursts Books
Price: 35.00 GBP
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Memoirs of the Forty-Five First Years of the Life of James Lackington, Bookseller., James Lackington — 1827 Edition

Publication: London, Printed for Hunt and Clarke, 1827.

Formatting: 12mo, pp. 347, [9].

Condition Report: Good. This volume presents in its early quarter-cloth and paper-covered boards, which exhibit noticeable shelf-wear, rubbing to the extremities, and edge-chipping indicative of its age. The green cloth spine is frayed with loss at both the head and tail caps, though the printed paper spine label remains present, albeit chipped. The text block's binding remains generally tight and secure. Internally, the uncut pages show heavy foxing and spotting, particularly prominent on the endpapers, frontispiece, and title page, along with general age-related toning throughout.

Catalogue Note: This 1827 edition, printed "From the Latest Edition", was likely issued as part of Hunt and Clarke's Autobiography series, which aimed to collect the most instructive and amusing lives ever published.

The volume is notably complete with its engraved portrait frontispiece of Lackington, serving as a handsome visual accompaniment to the text. While early 19th-century reprints of Lackington's memoirs frequently surface on the open market, finding them in their early, unsophisticated board bindings is becoming increasingly uncommon, offering a genuinely authentic glimpse into 1820s publishing practices.

James Lackington (1746–1815) was a pioneering British bookseller who famously revolutionized the trade by abolishing credit and radically lowering margins. This allowed him to build the "Temple of the Muses" in London—one of the largest bookstores in the world, purportedly housing over half a million volumes. Written in the form of forty-seven letters to a friend, his memoirs trace his extraordinary ascent from a penniless journeyman shoemaker to a wealthy, independent literary magnate. Filled with humorous anecdotes, unapologetic egotism, and sharp observations on reading, education, and society, Lackington’s autobiography remains an indispensable primary source for the history of the book trade and a highly entertaining Georgian rags-to-riches tale.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: James Lackington

Book Publisher: Hunt and Clarke

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 347

Book Publication Year: 1827

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Quarter Cloth over Paper Boards)

Illustrator: N/A

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.

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