251 volumes in all. Illustrated with copper engraved plates and maps, wood engravings, text figures, etc. (8vo's), 8¼x5, nearly uniform 19th-century half straight-grained morocco and marbled boards, all edges marbled. Continuous run, with single annual volumes for numbers 1-52; subsequent numbers are double volumes annually. First volume is the 4th edition, dated 1732, second volume is an 1806 reprint (reprinted for Machell Stace) all others are First Editions.
Continuous, nearly 150-year run of the most important English literary, historical, cultural, scientific, and topical journal of the era. The word "magazine" (literally meaning "storehouse") was first applied to describe a periodical publication here in the "Gentleman's Magazine." Editor Edward Cave ("Sylvanus Urban", 1691-1754) originally intended to reprint material from other journals and the first 8 volumes reflect this sensibility, though by 1739 almost all the material published was original. Samuel Johnson's career as a writer essentially began at the "Magazine" at this same time when Cave took him under his wing, and he was a regular contributor for several years. The vast assortment of contents include, in the 1776 (Vol. 46) issue, the first British publication of the Declaration of Independence; first appearances of poems and essays by Samuel Johnson, as well as his ongoing Parliamentary reports published under the heading “Debates in the Senate of Lilliput;” essays and reports concerning a wide range of topics; book reviews, etc. Four index volumes cover the years 1731-1818, the fifth index volume is an index to the plates to 1818, inclusive. Not fully collated, but believed to be substantially complete, though some maps and plates noted in index vol. 5 are not present. Printed plate lists as directions to the binder for placing the plates first appear in vol. 18 (1748) and are at odds with the plate index volume. Removal of 1 map (Map of the British Plantations in North America) from Vol. 24 is apparent, but the set has definitely never been looted for its plates and maps, which are abundant especially in the early numbers. Of particular note is Vol. 10 (1740) with maps of Veracruz, St. Augustine, the West Indies, and the Western Atlantic Ocean. We will gladly respond to inquiries regarding the presence of specific content. Provenance: from the San Rafael (CA) Public Library, accessioned in 1909 and never circulated. Sold to benefit the Friends of the San Rafael Public Library.
Condition:
Ex-library with no markings save old printed bookplate to pastedowns and neat 4-digit accession numbers to title pages; some volumes with minor to moderate wear, including 1 board (of 502!) detached; a couple backstrips pulled; 1 volume with old annotations; most maps and plates pristine, but a couple with short tears to folds, overall very good.