James Boswell
42 copies for sale · $23–$15,000 · 8 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
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 Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Containing Some Poetical Pieces (first edition) — Rulon-Miller Books$425
Boswells Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Ll D Now First Published Fr (first edition) — Bartleby's Books$150
Boswell's London Journal: 1762-1763 (first edition) — Argosy Book Store$23
Life Of Samuel Johnson Crokers Second Extra Illustrated — Heritage Book Shop$2,500
The life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. ... The second edition, revised and augmented — Rulon-Miller Books$1,750
Works on the market
The Life Of Samuel Johnson Ll D Comprehending An Account Of His Studies And Numerous Works5 copies · $400–$1,500
Life of Samuel Johnson5 copies · £145–£400
Life Of Samuel Johnson Ll D2 copies · $375–$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
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D … in Two Volumes1 copy · $4,500
Private Papers Of James Boswell From Malahide Castle In The Collection Of Lt Colonel Ralph1 copy · $4,000
Life Of Samuel Johnson Crokers Second Extra Illustrated1 copy · $2,500
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Ll D By James Boswell Esq Contai1 copy · $1,250
An Account of Corsica, The Journal of a Tour to that Island and memoirs of Pascal Paoli1 copy · $950
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Ll D By James Boswell Esq Contai1 copy · $950
The Life Of Samuel Johnson Ll D Including A Journal Of His Tour To The Hebrides With Numer1 copy · $500
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Containing Some Poetical Pieces 1 copy · $425
The Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson Containing Some Poetical Pieces 1 copy · $350
Market context
27 copies of James Boswell's works have left the market recently; the median last-listed price was $175 (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.