Sponsor a Book at Dr Johnson's House
Sponsor a Book to help support our Book Conservation project!  Our collection includes over 1,000 books by or relating to Johnson and some of them are in desperate need of attention.  We are seeking to raise a total of nearly £10,000 to fund the professional conservation of twenty 16th, 17th and 18th- century books that have been identified by our Curator as being in urgent need of care.
​
So far, we have been awarded £2,000 in conservation grants towards our total.  We still need a lot more support to reach our goal, so any donation you could provide would be greatly appreciated.  We welcome donations from as little as £5, all the way to the full conservation cost!
You can donate via PayPal.  Alternatively, why not visit the House to find out more about the project and donate in person by cash or card.  By sponsoring a book, you are contributing to the survival of some of the 18th century's greatest literary works and helping to preserve them for future generations.
​
Thank you very much in advance, and if you have any questions or require any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email or telephone 020 7353 3745.
Elizabeth Carter, Epictetus, 1st edition, 1758
Description
Elisabeth Carter was the most successful 18th-century classicist and good friends with Johnson. Carter's translation of Epictetus was her greatest achievement. It was the first English translation in full of the writings of the Ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus. It was first published in 1758 under Carter's own name and the first edition earned her over £1000 and gave her an International reputation and financial independence.
​
Recommended Treatment
Collate; take down; repair leaves as necessary; re-sew as original (460 pages);re-attach boards with concealed cotton joints; make up missing areas of vellum to spine and tone to suit; consolidate corners and boards edges without adding too much new material; tone all repairs. Repair to keep as much original material as possible.
​
Cost £800
Mason, Poems, 1764.
Elizabeth Carter's copy
Description
William Mason (1725-1797) was an English poet and amateur draftsman. He was good friends with Thomas Grey, Horace Walpole and Joshua Reynolds. This first edition belonged to Elizabeth Carter. She passed this onto her niece, also Elizabeth Carter. This explains the two inscriptions of Elizabeth Carter. The book was subsequently passed through the Palmer and Duncan families. A note by William Palmer explains that the gift was made on the marriage of the younger Elizabeth Carter to him in 1795. He later adds a note presenting the volume to Francis Duncan, the husband of his daughter Mary Anne.
​​
Recommended Treatment
Reinforce board attachment with vellum insterted at caps; make up missing areas of leather at joints and caps; consolidate and repair corners; reinforce/resew endbands as necessary; tone all repairs to suit; could add aged gold tooled lettering label if required(?). Repair to keep as much original material as possible.
​
Cost £300, or £350 with new label
