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16 Samuel Johnson
The Vanity of Human Wishes
Cambridge: Rampant Lion Press, 1984. Stk. +PR
3530 1984.
Samuel Johnson finished writing The Vanity of Human Wishes on 25
November 1748; it was first published 9 January 1749. This limited
edition (no.128 of 200 copies) has a slightly longer publication
history. The superb etchings by Denis Tegetmeier were originally
done in 1929 for a book that was proposed but scrapped because of
the Depression. In 1937, bookmaker Douglas Cleverdon planned to
resuscitate the project. However, the War intervened. In 1969 another
edition was planned but the project foundered through lack of enthusiasm.
As Will Carter, designer and printer at Rampant Lion, states: ‘It
is hoped that the present edition will make some amends to Denis
for the fifty years that he has, with exemplary patience, awaited
the publication of his etchings.’ |