1790 The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
The first Stockdale edition illustrated by Thomas Stothard of Daniel Defoe's classic adventure tale of Robinson Crusoe, in two volumes. Matches record number N47632 of the ESTC [English Short Title Catalogue]
Title: [vol I]: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner: Who Lived Eight and Twenty Years all Alone in an Uninhabited Island on the Coast of America, Near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque Having Been Cast on Shore by Shipwreck, Wherein all the Men Perished but Himself With an Account how he was at Last as Strangely Delivered by Pyrates.
Title [vol.2]: The farther adventures of Robinson Crusoe; being the second and last part of his life. And of the Strange and Surprizing Account of his Travels Round Three Parts of the Globe.'
Author: Daniel Defoe [1661?-1731]
Publisher: printed for John Stockdale.
Published Date: 1790.
Pagination: Volume I: 367, Volume 2 456. [pp.367-456 of v.2 contain a life of Defoe and a list of his writings by George Chalmers].
Size: c.23cm x 16cm.
Bound in full contemporary calf with Morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. Additional gilt detail to the spines but this has significantly worn now and is barely visible. The boards are in good, overall condition - there are some surface marks/scratches to the boards, cracking to the front and rear joints on both volumes, cracking to the leather on the spine on both volumes, and rubbing/bumping to the edges, corners and to the head and tail of the spine. The end-band to volume one has partially detached. Featuring two engraved title pages, one engraved author portrait, and 14 full-page engraved plates (including two frontispieces - one lacking a tissue guard), designed by Thomas Stothard and engraved by Meland. The contents are very good - the pages are lightly age toned with the odd spot of foxing/browning and some of the tissue guards are a little creased or rough around the edges, but there is otherwise nothing significant to note.
The novel tells the story of Crusoe, 'a disobedient son, arguing with his father and representing opinions of a new world - one where life in England is uncertain but global opportunity beckons, and children are increasingly torn between traditional obedience to family and individual self-satisfaction. Drawn to the sea regardless of parental and what appear to be providential warnings of catastrophe, he finds unbounded economic opportunity in Brazil.' (DNB) It is regarded as "the most popular, delightful, and extraordinary of all Defoe's Works, and has lost none of its original attraction." (Lowndes, 613-14). With regard to the Stockdale edition shown in this listing, it is regarded as “an important contribution to the life of Defoe’s book. The handsome set restored the Crusoe text, which, by 1790, had been much abused. [Furthermore] Thomas Stothard[’s]… extensive and beautiful illustrations made Stockdale’s the first edition so finely decorated” (Lovett 89).