Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq. F.R.S., secreary to the admiralty in the Reigns of Charles II and James II. Comprising his Diary from 1659 to 1669

London: Henry Colburn, 1825. Hardcover. Very Good. Hardcover. First Edition. This is Volume I only of this two volume work. With an owner name of Ralph Neville and a note on a free front endpaper stating that this copy was printed for correction before the plates and iillustrations were finished, and they are thus missing. The title page states that the Diary was deciphered by the Reverend John Smith of St. John's College from the original short-hand ms. in the Pepysian Library and a selection from his private correpondence. Beautifully bound in three quarter burgundy leather with burgundy cloth covers. Covers have gilt rulings along the edges of the leather. The spine has six gilt edged compartments with title, volume number, the notation "proof sheets," and the date. Newer pastedowns and free front and rear endpapers. A label affixed to the front pastedown has the initials "AHA" - presumably the owner or the binder. All page edges are gilt. Light spotting to initial pages and often sporadically throughout. Some text page areas have browning but the margins are clean and bright except for the sporadic spotting, particularly on pages 159-167. The first page of the first chapter has a ight pencil circle indicating that a portrait would be placed there. A nice copy in a beautiful custom binding. Measures 9 x 12 inches. 498 pages plus a General Index with xlix pages. ENGHIST/080125.