Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq. F.R.S. Secretary to the Admiralty in the Reign of Charles II and James II. Comprising His Diary from 1659 to 1669, Deciphered by the Rev. John Smith, A.B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, from the Original Short-Hand Ms. in the Pepysian Library, and a Selection from His Private Correspondence

London: Henry Colburn, 1825. First edition. Leather. Very Good Indeed. 12" by 9.5". Not Stated. The first printed edition of this famous diary, and therefore contemporaneous account of the fire of London. Edited by Lord Braybrooke using John Smith's transcription of the original diary. Illustrated, with a frontispiece of Pepys and a further seven plates to volume I. With a frontispiece and four plates to volume II. With the half-titles to both volumes. With the bookplate of Sir John Smith, Bart, to the front pastedown. This is the first published edition of Pepys' diary in full. Lord Braybrooke, Richard Griffin, is the editor of this edition. He was a British Whig politician who wrote several historical works and was president of the Camden Society for several years. He used John Smith's transcription of the diary for this publication. John Smith was the first person to decipher the diary in its entirety. Previously small sections had been deciphered. It transpired that Pepys' original diaries were written in a shorthand system devised by Thomas Skelton. Smith's transcription is held in the Pepys library. Pepys' diary enabled historians to understand more about 17th century London. He wrote extensively on personal finances, weather and food. In addition to day-to-day activities the diary provides a commentary on significant events during his lifetime. These include the Restoration of the British Monarchy, the Anglo-Dutch war, The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Collated, complete. In a half calf binding with marbled paper covered boards. Rebacked, in the style of the original spines, with the original boards preserved. Externally, very smart with just some patches of minor rubbing to the paper covered boards. Bookplate to the front pastedown of both volumes, Sir John Smith. Internally, both volumes are firmly bound. Pages are bright with minor offsetting and scattered spots, heavier to the first and last few pages. Offsetting from the plates, which have light spots as is usual. Very Good Indeed