London: J. Murray, 1790. Second Edition. Three-volume set in 8vo. 5.25 x 8.25 in. 574; 522; 625 pp. + errata & indexes. Speckled calf, all edges marbled, with blue marbled endpapers & one ribbon marker each. Second Edition, Enlarged & Corrected. Very good. Joints moderately worn & tender, with some rubbing to covers; lightly chipped at crown & foot of spine. Volume I moderately chipped at foot of spine, with very tender upper joint. Title pages moderately browned. Bindings remain square & tight, texts very clean & bright. Overall a sound, crisp set.

This set belonged to Sir John Wedderburn -- probably the sixth baronet of Blackness (d. 1803), who fled to Jamaica after his father, the fifth baronet, was executed by the English; he profited by the sugar trade & eventually returned to Scotland, reclaimed his title, and ended his days as a wealthy country gentleman. But Wedderburn is best known perhaps for his West African slave, Joseph Knight, who in Scotland brought a claim against him & whose legal counsel was assisted by James Boswell & Samuel Johnson; at the behest of this case it was decided that slavery was not recognized under Scots law. At any rate, John Wedderburn's bookplate with coat of arms & motto 'NON DEGENER' ('not degenerate') above & the unavoidably ironic 'AQUILA NON CAPTAT MUSCAS' ('the eagle is no fly-catcher') below. A handsome set. ESTC T82377.

Price: $600.00