The Observer by R. Cumberland, Esq.; Complete in One Volume // bound with: The World, A Periodical Paper, Published at London, in the Years 1753, -4, -5, -6, -7 by Adam Fitz-Adam

vi, 338, viii, 364 p.; 23 cm. Contemporary tree calf with six spine compartments between double gilt rules. Red leather label in second compartment with gilt-tooled title Observer & World. Bookplate on front fixed endpaper and inscriptions on front free endpaper and back fixed endpaper indicating that this book was given to the Belles Lettres Society of Dickinson College in 1828 by James R. Irvin of Carlisle and John F. Hoff of Lancaster. The collection of essays by English playwright Richard Cumberland (1732-1811) was originally issued in one volume containing 40 numbers in 1785; it was augmented in successive editions. This edition contains 152 essays. The World was originally published in 1753-56 with Adam Fitz-Adam (pseudonym of Edward Moore), the Earl of Chesterfield, Richard Owen Cambridge, and Horace Walpole as the principal contributors; this contains all 209 issues and "A World Extraordinary," unnumbered and undated. In Very Good- Condition: leather is rubbed and scraped; 2x7-cm. section lacking along gutter of last leaf of The Observer, with small loss of text; occasional light foxing; otherwise clean. …