The Tatler -- 4 volumes in full contemporary calf, London: 1764

The original Tatler was founded in 1709 by Richard Steele, who used the nom de plume "Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire", the first such consistently adopted journalistic personae, which adapted to the first person, as it were, the seventeenth-century genre of "characters", as first established in English by Sir Thomas Overbury and soon to be expanded by Lord Shaftesbury's Characteristics (1711). Steele's idea was to publish the news and gossip heard in London coffeehouses, hence the title, and seemingly, from the opening paragraph, to leave the subject of politics to the newspapers, presenting Whiggish views and correcting middle-class manners, while instructing "these Gentlemen, for the most part being Persons of strong Zeal, and weak Intellects...what to think." To assure complete coverage of local gossip, a reporter was placed in each of the city's popular coffeehouses, or at least such were the datelines: accounts of manners and mores were datelined from White's; literary notes from Will’s; notes of antiquarian interest were dated from the Grecian Coffee House; and news items from St. James’s.

In its first incarnation, it was published three times a week. The original Tatler was published for only two years, from 12 April 1709 to 2 January 1711. A collected edition was published in 1710–11, with the title The Lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq..

Important contributors were Jonathan Swift and Joseph Addison

The Female Spectator

In four volumes, full contemporary calf; T. Gardner, London, 1748. Hardcover. Third Edition. The first periodical written by a woman for women, published anonymously by Eliza Haywood between 1744 and 1746. A kind of response to Addison and Steele's Spectator, The Female Spectator was quite popular, providing a vehicle for the discussion of a number of topics as they affected the lives of women. Each volume with a different engraved frontispiece depicting the four women Haywood created as a device for getting her point across.

Joseph Addison -- Miscellaneous Works in Verse and Prose in 3 volumes with 4th volume of Remarks on Several Parts of Italy

London J. & R. Tonson 1767. 4 Vols. Contemporary gilt-tooled tan calf, raised bands & spine labels. Handsomely bound set of Addison's works. Joseph Addison (1672-1719), contributor to the Spectator, "raised the English essay to a degree of technical perfection never before achieved and perhaps never since surpassed."

An attractive and unique set, including Addison’s poetry, his dramas "Cato" and "Rosamond" and his "Remarks on Several Parts of Italy". The four castles to the fore-edges are all northern fortresses important to battles fought in the Wars of the Roses.

The Rambler -- Samuel Johnson

In 4 volumes in full contemporary calf, London, 1771. Johnson's Rambler, "a vast treasury of moral precept and ethical instruction" (Lowndes, 1218). Published twice weekly over a two year period, from March 20, 1750 to March 14, 1752, The Rambler features essays on a variety of topics, as well as fables, allegories, character studies and criticisms. Of the 208 issues, Johnson wrote all of them except for five. Other contributors include Samuel Richardson (No. 97), Elizabeth Carter (Nos. 44 and 100), Catherine Talbot (No. 30), and Mrs. Hester Chapone (four billets in No. 10). This periodical "exerted so mighty an influence on the English language and people It commenced with a standard of morals and language elevated far above the prevailing style of morals and of writing. It has elevated both, and has brought the English language and notions of morality to its own level It is a component part of English literature, having fixed itself in the language, the style, and the morals of the English people, and taken its place as an integral part of the national principles" (Allibone, 974). Early owner signature. A handsome set in fine condition.

Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 -- 13 December 1784), often referred to as Dr Johnson, or "The Good Doctor", was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory, and has been described as "the most distinguished man of letters in English history". He is also the subject of the most famous single work of biographical art in the whole of literature, James Boswell's "Life of Samuel Johnson".

201 of the essays were written by Johnson, the others being by Hester Mulso (Chapone), Catherine Talbot, Samuel Richardson and Elizabeth Carter. The Rambler is one of Johnson's major works, and a basis for his reputation as a great moral teacher of his countrymen. Few of the observations elucidated in his essays were original, but he declared that "men more often require to be reminded than informed". Few writers have done so more effectively.

The World -- Adam Fitz-Adam

London, Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall Mall, 1772., 1772. 4 vols. 8vo. Professionally rebound in quarter-bound leather with contemporary marbled boards. Copper engraved illustrations to title-pages. A very beautiful, handsome set. Provides a fascinating satirical insight into Eighteenth century life and manners. Contributors to The World included Lords Lyttelton, Bath, and Chesterfield, Soame Jenyns, Horace Walpole, and Edward Lovibond, as well as the editor Edward Moore.

The Guardian -- Joseph Addison & Richard Steele

In 2 volumes in full contemporary calf, London, 1767.

This important periodical was original published daily, except for Sundays, in 175 numbers, from March 12 to October 1, 1713. Included are 53 essays by Addison, and 82 by Steele; among the other contributors were Alexander Pope (9 numbers), John Gay, and Bishop Berkeley. Steele had every intention of making the Guardian less political than some of his former journals, and he declared himself to be a Tory with regard to the church, and a Whig with regard to the state. But he was, a Samuel Johnson put it, "too hot for neutral topics," and by the middle of the year the Guardian was involved in controvery with the openly Tory Examiner.