Johnson's Lives of the British Poets. Completed by William Hazlitt [the Younger]. BRIGHT SET OF THE FIRST 'BRITISH' POETS

4 vols., 8vo., First Edition thus, with pictorial series title, 4 engraved frontispieces, title-vignettes, 22 engraved plates and numerous engraved illustrations in the text; publisher's original binding of elaborately patterned plum cloth, sides patterned in blind, backs blocked and lettered in gilt, primrose endpapers, backstrips chipped at head and tail else a remarkably well-preserved, bright, clean copy in wholly unrestored publisher's series binding. With the trade ticket in blind of Thos. Smith of Stockport on front free endpapers. First appearance of Johnson's 'Lives of the English Poets' greatly expanded by William Hazlitt and published as the 'British' Poets. 'The number of Lives contained in the present volumes is ten times greater than those given by Dr. Johnson' (Preface).Dedicated to Monckton Milnes, the work is published in Cooke's well-known National Illustrated Library with its distinctive patterned cloth binding, and profusely illustrated throughout (the majority of the plates are after Dalziel). Nice set in wholly unrestored publisher's binding. Courtney & Smith, p.145.