Daniel Defoe – The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe – 1799

A scarce edition of Defoe’s classic work, collected in 10 individual parts with the rare original wrappers, published around 1799-1800.

These are Cooke’s Cheap and Elegant Pocket Library Edition, the first printing with this set of illustrations, costing sixpence apiece and targeting a lower-income mass market of readers. Robinson Crusoe was first published in 1719 and tells the story of a sailor marooned on a desert island for 28 years, and his eventual survival.

Printed in London by Charles Cooke, who specialised in illustrated serialised editions of classic and popular works. It is now rare for full sets such as these to survive, especially with the wrappers, which advertise a range of other titles by the same publisher.

Each part is 15.5cm x 11.2cm and has an engraved plate in the opening page. Part 1 shows a portrait of the author, with Parts 2-10 showing scenes from the book.

Presented in a customised dark red clamshell box with raised bands, compartments and gilt title lettering to the spine.

In very good condition for a set of this age and fragility. The first part has had repair work to the top quarter of the front wrapper, with the original replaced with brown paper. First page loose in first part. All others good, with the signature of a J.A. Kuyper neatly inscribed to the top-right corner of the front wrapper. Some general soiling, foxing and other minor issues.