Johnson, Samuel (1709--1784). A dictionary of the English language
[Rasselas. 1810]
The history of Rasselas, prince of Abissinia. A tale. By Dr. Johnson. Two volumes in one. Cooke's edition. Embellished with engravings.
London (Place), printed for C. Cooke by MacDonald and Son, and sold by all the booksellers in the United Kingdom,, [1810].
[4], 144, [4] p., add. engr. t.-pl., engr. frontis., engr. port., [1] pl. ; 14.3 cm. (12º)

First published under the title The Prince of Abissinia, in 1759. With a half title. Publication date from additional engraved title-plate reading 'Rasselas, forming part of Cooke's Pocket Edition of Select Novels or Novelists Entertaining Library containing a Complete Collection of Universally Approved Adventures, Tales &c by the most Esteem'd Authors. Superbly Embellished'. The engraved frontispiece is dated 1804, the portrait of Johnson is dated 1799, and the plate is dated 1797, presumably from their appearance in earlier editions. Prefaced by: Life of Dr. Johnson, p.[1]--36. The two final leaves contain an 'Enumeration of Cooke's Elegant Pocket Editions Of The Select Poets And Novels, ...' and further publisher's advertisements. The publisher Charles Cooke extended the formula of illustrated pocket editions previously used by John Bell in his Poets of Great Britain series (109 vols, 1776--82) to publish series of uniform pocket editions in other genres such as 'British Classics', 'Sacred Classics', poetry and plays, all 'Superbly Embellished'.

Binding Contemporary C19th tree calf, gilt-tooled spine, black and red leather spine-labels. Uniform with other volumes of Cooke's Pocket Editions in the Soane Museum.

Reference Number 740