POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS

The FIRST AND BEST OF THE RARE Tonson subscription folio editions, ONE OF A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF COPIES ONLY, of this sumptuous "Superfine" issue, with the watermark of a fleur-de-lys surmounting a shield, organized and published by Prior?s friends. The Strasburg bend watermark was used generally for the subscribers and normal copies were issued with the London arms watermark. Illustrated with superb engraved frontispiece, and large and finely engraved head, tail and initial pieces throughout. Folio, original full period speckled calf, red calf label gilt within raised bands of the spine separating the compartments which are elaborately decorated with finely tooled gilt panel work surrounding central gilt tooled floral pieces, all edges speckled. [42], 506 + [6] Contents at end. A very fine and very crisp copy of this exquisitely printed work. Entirely unsophisticated with some very minor expected age.

Edizione: very rare in this state. an exquisitely printed work. the quality of the engraving work is absolutely superb and the setting of the type and choice of paper of the very highest quality. having this book in one?s hands makes one reflect upon how wonderful a folio edition of shakespeare might have been had tonson ever undertaken the task.<br> matthew prior was one of the most important english poets of the century, and a diplomat as well. to raise money after his release from house arrest during the shift of power in england, tonson and alexander pope especially aided prior in setting to type a subscriber's edition of his poems. the project was a great success with nearly 1500 names included among the original subscribers to the work.