"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
— P.J. O'Rourke
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray, English and Latin. Illustrated.
Eton: E.P. Williams, 1854. [Poetry] FINELY BOUND FIFTH EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[4] viii; c; 142 [4]. With 15 steel engravings and woodcuts after drawings by Charles Radclyffe, including a frontispiece and vignette title page, each with a tissue guard. Good-sized print on good paper. Contemporary tan full calf with raised bands, gilt titles to red label, and further gilt tooling to spine. Also with Gray's Eton memorial and Eton College Chapel stamped in gilt to boards. All edges and endpapers marbled. Black ink ownership to first blank. Heavy spotting to plates and facing leaves, otherwise quite clean internally. Much of the gilt decoration on the spine has been rubbed away, but the title label is unaffected. Light wear to binding overall. Very good. A decidedly deluxe edition of Gray's poetry, with nearly half the volume consisting of additional material, including a Life of the poet, some literary criticism, and even a series of 'introductory stanzas' by the Reverend John Moultrie. Likely bound to be used interchangeably as a gift or prize book, it contains no evidence of a dedication or prize inscription. Item #59476
Price: £150.00
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See all items by Rev. John MITFORD, George HOWARD, 7th Earl of Carlisle, Rev. John MOULTRIE, introduction, Charles W. RADCLYFFE, E, S. WILLIAMS, illustrators SLY, E., Thomas GRAY