first edition
1804 · London
by Lackington, James
London: printed by Richard Edwards, Crane Court, Fleet Street, for the author; and sold by all booksellers in the United Kingdom, 1804. First edition, 12mo, pp. viii, 212, [4] index and errata; original blue paper-covered boards, cream paper shelfback, printed paper labels on both the front board and (unusually) on the back board as well; front cover loose, spine largely perished; all else good or better. Lackington (1746-1815) was a prosperous and innovative bookseller who "is credited with revolutionizing the British book trade ... He is best known for refusing credit at his shop which allowed him to reduce the price of books throughout his store. He printed catalogues of his stock; according to Lackington's biography, the first edition contained 12,000 titles. He bought whole libraries and published writers' manuscripts. He also saved remaindered books from destruction and resold them at bargain prices, firmly believing that books were the key to knowledge, reason and happiness and that everyone, no matter their economic background, social class or gender, had the right to access books at cheap prices" (Wikipedia).
(Inventory #: 66818)