A handsome continuation of Hume’s great national history, richly illustrated and beautifully bound
This complete eight volume 1794 London edition of Tobias Smollett’s The History of England from the Revolution to the Death of George II provides the eighteenth century continuation to the historical edifice first constructed by David Hume. Printed for T. Cadell and T. N. Longman, and illustrated throughout with engraved plates, it offers a vivid account of the political, military, and naval developments that shaped Britain from 1688 to the mid eighteenth century.
Smollett, better known today as a novelist, was also a trained physician, a historian, and a traveller. His historical writing reflects a sharp, analytical mind grounded in the events of his own century. Where Hume had shaped an elegant and philosophical narrative, Smollett added colour, immediacy, and the perspective of a man who had lived through many of the conflicts he describes. The volumes contain portraits of monarchs from William III to George II, engraved plans of battles and fleets, and a text designed to complement Hume’s earlier work so closely that the two sets form a continuous history of England across thirteen centuries.
The binding of this set is a striking example of late Georgian craftsmanship. Each volume is bound in contemporary mottled calf with contrasting spine labels and gilt tooling. The patina of age is evident in the rubbing to joints and edges, yet the bindings remain firm and present a unified and impressive appearance on the shelf. Internally, the pages are clean and bright for their age, with only the lightest toning and occasional spotting. The engraved plates, printed from well-cut copperplates, retain their clarity and depth.
Condition
The bindings show wear to the extremities, some cracking to the joints, and light abrasions to the surface, but are structurally solid. The interiors are unusually fresh, the impressions of the engravings sharp, and the paper of excellent eighteenth century quality. A complete and well preserved example of this important edition.
Context and pairing
Smollett’s continuation and Hume’s original set were frequently kept together in learned libraries of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. When paired, they form one of the great Enlightenment histories of Britain, uniting philosophical interpretation with detailed narrative. For collectors seeking a comprehensive historical ensemble, this matching 1794 edition serves as the natural companion to the 1793 Hume set, which is also available on this website.
This eight volume collection is a distinguished addition to any library of British history, Enlightenment scholarship, or fine antiquarian bindings. It offers not only historical insight but also a tangible connection to the intellectual world of late Georgian London.
A handsome continuation of Hume’s great national history, richly illustrated and beautifully bound
This complete eight volume 1794 London edition of Tobias Smollett’s The History of England from the Revolution to the Death of George II provides the eighteenth century continuation to the historical edifice first constructed by David Hume. Printed for T. Cadell and T. N. Longman, and illustrated throughout with engraved plates, it offers a vivid account of the political, military, and naval developments that shaped Britain from 1688 to the mid eighteenth century.
Smollett, better known today as a novelist, was also a trained physician, a historian, and a traveller. His historical writing reflects a sharp, analytical mind grounded in the events of his own century. Where Hume had shaped an elegant and philosophical narrative, Smollett added colour, immediacy, and the perspective of a man who had lived through many of the conflicts he describes. The volumes contain portraits of monarchs from William III to George II, engraved plans of battles and fleets, and a text designed to complement Hume’s earlier work so closely that the two sets form a continuous history of England across thirteen centuries.
The binding of this set is a striking example of late Georgian craftsmanship. Each volume is bound in contemporary mottled calf with contrasting spine labels and gilt tooling. The patina of age is evident in the rubbing to joints and edges, yet the bindings remain firm and present a unified and impressive appearance on the shelf. Internally, the pages are clean and bright for their age, with only the lightest toning and occasional spotting. The engraved plates, printed from well-cut copperplates, retain their clarity and depth.
Condition
The bindings show wear to the extremities, some cracking to the joints, and light abrasions to the surface, but are structurally solid. The interiors are unusually fresh, the impressions of the engravings sharp, and the paper of excellent eighteenth century quality. A complete and well preserved example of this important edition.
Context and pairing
Smollett’s continuation and Hume’s original set were frequently kept together in learned libraries of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. When paired, they form one of the great Enlightenment histories of Britain, uniting philosophical interpretation with detailed narrative. For collectors seeking a comprehensive historical ensemble, this matching 1794 edition serves as the natural companion to the 1793 Hume set, which is also available on this website.
This eight volume collection is a distinguished addition to any library of British history, Enlightenment scholarship, or fine antiquarian bindings. It offers not only historical insight but also a tangible connection to the intellectual world of late Georgian London.
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