A monumental Enlightenment history in contemporary gilt calf with engraved plates
This complete thirteen volume 1793 London edition of David Hume’s The History of England represents one of the great achievements of eighteenth century historical writing. Produced by T. Cadell and T. N. Longman, this set embodies the final form of Hume’s revised narrative, stretching from the Roman conquest to the Revolution of 1688. It is handsomely bound in contemporary mottled calf, each spine decorated with gilt tooling and contrasting title labels, and each volume illustrated with engraved portraits of monarchs and key historical figures.
Hume’s History reshaped the study of the British past. His synthesis of political narrative, philosophical interpretation, and stylistic clarity influenced generations of readers and historians. For much of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the work was regarded as the authoritative history of England, admired for its moderation, sceptical insight, and literary grace. This 1793 edition reflects the last corrections made during Hume’s lifetime, and thus represents the text as he intended it.
Opening these volumes is to step into the intellectual atmosphere of the Enlightenment, when history was thought to be a moral science, a study of institutions and human nature guided by reason. The engraved plates contribute further depth, offering a visual gallery of rulers and statesmen who shaped the national story. The bindings themselves retain the patina and structure of late Georgian craftsmanship, with wear consistent with age but an overall solidity that speaks to the quality of the original production.
Condition
The calf bindings show rubbing, light scuffing, and some spine wear, yet remain sound and attractive as a uniform set. The interiors are generally crisp, with minimal foxing, and the engraved plates are well preserved. A clean and complete example of a major Enlightenment publication.
Context and continuation
While complete in itself, this set aligns naturally with Tobias Smollett’s continuation of Hume’s narrative, which carries the history forward from 1688. For collectors who wish to present an unbroken historical arc of Britain from antiquity to the eighteenth century, the pairing of the two works creates a coherent intellectual ensemble. See the separate listing on this website for Tobias Smolett’s continuation.
This is a distinguished addition to any library concerned with Enlightenment thought, British history, or the evolution of historical writing. A rare opportunity to acquire an elegant and intact multi volume set of one of the period’s most influential works.
A monumental Enlightenment history in contemporary gilt calf with engraved plates
This complete thirteen volume 1793 London edition of David Hume’s The History of England represents one of the great achievements of eighteenth century historical writing. Produced by T. Cadell and T. N. Longman, this set embodies the final form of Hume’s revised narrative, stretching from the Roman conquest to the Revolution of 1688. It is handsomely bound in contemporary mottled calf, each spine decorated with gilt tooling and contrasting title labels, and each volume illustrated with engraved portraits of monarchs and key historical figures.
Hume’s History reshaped the study of the British past. His synthesis of political narrative, philosophical interpretation, and stylistic clarity influenced generations of readers and historians. For much of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the work was regarded as the authoritative history of England, admired for its moderation, sceptical insight, and literary grace. This 1793 edition reflects the last corrections made during Hume’s lifetime, and thus represents the text as he intended it.
Opening these volumes is to step into the intellectual atmosphere of the Enlightenment, when history was thought to be a moral science, a study of institutions and human nature guided by reason. The engraved plates contribute further depth, offering a visual gallery of rulers and statesmen who shaped the national story. The bindings themselves retain the patina and structure of late Georgian craftsmanship, with wear consistent with age but an overall solidity that speaks to the quality of the original production.
Condition
The calf bindings show rubbing, light scuffing, and some spine wear, yet remain sound and attractive as a uniform set. The interiors are generally crisp, with minimal foxing, and the engraved plates are well preserved. A clean and complete example of a major Enlightenment publication.
Context and continuation
While complete in itself, this set aligns naturally with Tobias Smollett’s continuation of Hume’s narrative, which carries the history forward from 1688. For collectors who wish to present an unbroken historical arc of Britain from antiquity to the eighteenth century, the pairing of the two works creates a coherent intellectual ensemble. See the separate listing on this website for Tobias Smolett’s continuation.
This is a distinguished addition to any library concerned with Enlightenment thought, British history, or the evolution of historical writing. A rare opportunity to acquire an elegant and intact multi volume set of one of the period’s most influential works.
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