Deals A Journal of the Plague Year 1665 ~ Daniel Defoe ~ 1978, Easton Press, Collector's Edition, Leather, Color Plates, Hubbed Spine, Near Fine

A Journal of the Plague Year 1665

Being Observations of Memorials of the most Remarkable Occurrences, both Publick and Private, which happen'd in London during the last Great Visitation in deals 1665. And written by a Citizen who continued all the while in London.

Now newly Introduced to the Public by Mr. James Sutherland, of London & Berkshire, and Embellish'd with notable Illustrations by Signor Domenico Gnoli, of Rome.

By Daniel Defoe

Collector's Edition Bound in Genuine Leather
The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written

The Easton Press
Norwalk Connecticut

1978, The Easton Press, Norwalk, Connecticut

Sewn binding. Brown leather over boards with gilt decoration on front and back and design and lettering on spine. Integral ribbon marker sewn in. Four spine hubs. All edges of leaves gilt. Moiré endpapers. 10.75", 270 pages, publisher's preface, introduction, list of the color plates

Near Fine condition. A solid, clean copy. Previous owner's stamp on title page (see fifth image). A light scuffed spot on the top back edge of the spine. Possibly unread or very carefully and gently read. The images came out just a bit more reddish than the book itself.

From the Publisher's Preface

...as he approached the age of 60, Defoe's real talents suddenly loomed as a literary phenomenon. In 1719 "Robinson Crusoe" appeared ... In a single year, 1722, he brought out six books, of which three are of great importance: "Moll Flanders", "Colonel Jack", and "A Journal of the Plague Year."

Defoe continued to write; the last authoritative count credits him with 545 titles in his lifetime. He lived rather well during some of his last years, but gradually the creditors and enemies persecuted him again. He died in poverty and without friends in Ropemakers Alley, London, in 1731.

BEP