The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia (1828)
A lovely half-leather copy of Samuel Johnson's philosophical romance
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
First thus. Hardback, half-leather binding with five raised bands, gilt decoration and contrasting title label to spine. 14.5 × 9cm, 182pp, with engraved title-page, printed title, and three engraved plates.
First published in 1759, this is a philosophical romance by Samuel Johnson (hastily written within a month of his mother's death to pay her funeral expenses). Rasselas was the youngest son of an Oriental despot who confines his children in the Happy Valley, a paradise. Rasselas, longing for the novelty of the world outside, escapes with his sister, Nekayah, and his mentor, Imlac. They go to Cairo where Rasselas is warned that romantic reverie, romantic love, flights of the imagination, daring speculations of philosophy, and great discoveries of science, all harm man by giving him an unrealistic expectation of what life has to offer and by encouraging false hope. They find the world offers them none of the happiness they expected, and return to Happy Valley.
Condition
Very good condition. Whilst there is some minor rubbing to the leather and some light foxing to the plates and prelims, this copy remains in clean, solid shape. Previous owner's bookplate to the front pastedown and inoffensive written name to ffep.
Books are currently zero-rated for duty (as of January 2026), so the price shown is the price you pay.
Price
£40.00
