An eighteenth century literary landmark preserved alongside a rare artifact of early motoring history
This complete eight volume 1753 edition of The Spectator stands as one of the enduring monuments of early eighteenth century English letters. First issued by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in the years following 1711, The Spectator shaped the intellectual and moral climate of its age, defining an entire genre of sociable essay writing that bridged politics, philosophy, manners, and the rhythms of daily life.
The 1753 Tonson and Draper printing continued this legacy for a later generation of readers, and the set offered here survives in its original full leather bindings, worn now with centuries of handling but still cohesive and complete.
What sets this particular set apart is the discovery of an early Ford Motor Company brochure, printed in London circa 1910 and preserved between the pages of Volume V. This small folded leaflet advertises the Ford Model T for the British market, complete with prices, model descriptions, and the London showroom address at 55 to 59 Shaftesbury Avenue. As ephemera from the dawn of British motoring, such brochures are now scarce, and to find one preserved within an eighteenth century literary classic creates an extraordinary bridge between two eras of technological and cultural transformation.
Provenance
Each volume bears the signature of William Miller of Edinburgh, dated 1834, along with his antiquarian bookseller’s label. Miller was an active figure in Scottish book culture during the early nineteenth century, lending the set an additional layer of historical interest.
Condition
The original calf bindings show significant wear: rubbed boards, cracking to spines, and losses to leather consistent with age. The interiors remain pleasantly toned and entirely legible, with the characteristic clarity of mid eighteenth century printing. The Ford brochure shows age marks at the folds but remains fully intact and readable.
An exceptional convergence of literary and technological history
Sets of The Spectator from this period appear only occasionally, but a set accompanied by early Ford advertising ephemera is almost certainly unique. Together they form an unexpected archival dialogue between Enlightenment prose and the industrial modernity that reshaped the twentieth century.
A rare opportunity for collectors of English literature, historical ephemera, eighteenth century bindings, or early automotive history.
An eighteenth century literary landmark preserved alongside a rare artifact of early motoring history
This complete eight volume 1753 edition of The Spectator stands as one of the enduring monuments of early eighteenth century English letters. First issued by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in the years following 1711, The Spectator shaped the intellectual and moral climate of its age, defining an entire genre of sociable essay writing that bridged politics, philosophy, manners, and the rhythms of daily life.
The 1753 Tonson and Draper printing continued this legacy for a later generation of readers, and the set offered here survives in its original full leather bindings, worn now with centuries of handling but still cohesive and complete.
What sets this particular set apart is the discovery of an early Ford Motor Company brochure, printed in London circa 1910 and preserved between the pages of Volume V. This small folded leaflet advertises the Ford Model T for the British market, complete with prices, model descriptions, and the London showroom address at 55 to 59 Shaftesbury Avenue. As ephemera from the dawn of British motoring, such brochures are now scarce, and to find one preserved within an eighteenth century literary classic creates an extraordinary bridge between two eras of technological and cultural transformation.
Provenance
Each volume bears the signature of William Miller of Edinburgh, dated 1834, along with his antiquarian bookseller’s label. Miller was an active figure in Scottish book culture during the early nineteenth century, lending the set an additional layer of historical interest.
Condition
The original calf bindings show significant wear: rubbed boards, cracking to spines, and losses to leather consistent with age. The interiors remain pleasantly toned and entirely legible, with the characteristic clarity of mid eighteenth century printing. The Ford brochure shows age marks at the folds but remains fully intact and readable.
An exceptional convergence of literary and technological history
Sets of The Spectator from this period appear only occasionally, but a set accompanied by early Ford advertising ephemera is almost certainly unique. Together they form an unexpected archival dialogue between Enlightenment prose and the industrial modernity that reshaped the twentieth century.
A rare opportunity for collectors of English literature, historical ephemera, eighteenth century bindings, or early automotive history.
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