James Boswell
12 copies for sale · $48–$15,000 · 3 first editions · 1 signed
Notable copies for sale
Autograph Letter Signed ALS (signed) — Manhattan Rare Books$13,500
The Life of Samuel Johnson in 2 vols. Bound with The Principal Corrections and Additions t (first edition) — Whitmore Rare Books$9,500
Letter to the People of Scotland, On the Present State of the Nation (first edition) — Heritage Book Shop$5,000
Life Of Samuel Johnson Crokers Second Extra Illustrated — Heritage Book Shop$2,500
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Ll D By James Boswell Esq Contai (first edition) — John Windle Antiquarian$950
The Life Of Samuel Johnson — Phillip J. Pirages$250
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. . . . The Eighth Edition, Revised and Augmented 4 volume — Lorne Bair Rare Books$175
Life Of Samuel Johnson Ll D — Heritage Book Shop$15,000
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Ll D By James Boswell Esq Contai — John Windle Antiquarian$1,250
The Life of Samuel Johnson — Books Tell You Why$48
Life of Samuel Johnson — Argosy Book Store$145
Works on the market
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Ll D By James Boswell Esq Contai2 copies · $950–$1,250
The Life Of Samuel Johnson2 copies · $48–$250
Life Of Samuel Johnson Ll D1 copy · $15,000
Autograph Letter Signed ALS1 copy · $13,500
The Life of Samuel Johnson in 2 vols. Bound with The Principal Corrections and Additions t1 copy · $9,500
Life Of Samuel Johnson Crokers Second Extra Illustrated1 copy · $2,500
Market context
30 copies of James Boswell's works have left the market recently; the median last-listed price was $273 (last listed prices at time of sale or removal, not confirmed sale prices).
Recent auction results (hammer prices, premiums not included):
The Life of Samuel Johnson, 4 vol., 1816; and others similar, most leather bound (19) (forum, 2026-06-04)£360
The Life of Samuel Johnson, 4 vol., 1826; and others on various subjects including art and (forum, 2026-05-07)£320
Boswell's Life of Johnson, 6 vols., 1934-50 (dominic winter, 2026-03-01)£180
The Life of Samuel Johnson, 2 volumes, 1st edition, 1st issue,1791 (dominic winter, 2026-03-01)£580
An Account of Corsica, 1st edition, Glasgow, 1768 (dominic winter, 2026-03-01)£240
Listings aggregated from rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide; refreshed continually. Prices are seller asking prices unless marked as auction results.