A Rare Copy of a Lesser-Known but Important Romantic Poet's First Work, Untrimmed with the Elusive Advertisement Leaf

POEMS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

LLOYD, CHARLES.

(Carlisle: Printed by F. Jollie, for J. Richardson, 1795). 226 x 140 mm. (8 7/8 x 5 1/2"). 3, [4], 7-104 pp., [1] leaf (errata). FIRST EDITION.

Pleasing calf by F. Bedford (stamp-signed on front flyleaf), covers framed with a double gilt rule, rosette cornerpieces, raised bands, spine gilt in compartments with central fleuron and foliate cornerpieces, green morocco label, turn-ins gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. A handful of pages with early pencil corrections. Johnson, "Provincial Poetry 1789-1839," 544; ESTC T63447. Front joint, spine bands, and extremities minimally rubbed, occasional thumbing, a few minor spots, but a very pleasing copy, especially fresh internally in a lustrous binding.

Nicely bound, very well preserved, and with especially attractive bibliophilic features, this is a very appealing copy of a Romantic poet's rarely seen first work. Charles Lloyd (1775-1839) emerged from a quiet Birmingham Quaker upbringing to become a part of the social and literary circles of the first generation of English Romantics. He was particularly close to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, with whom he lived from 1796-97, and was friends with the Wordsworths, Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Thomas De Quincey, who once called Lloyd "amongst the most interesting men I have known." The present collection of youthful verses is primarily inspired by natural beauty and Classical subjects, although some veer toward more serious intimate contemplation: for example, "Dirge, Occasion'd by an Infant's Death," which expresses direct, raw grief at personal--perhaps the poet's own--loss. Our copy benefits from a pleasing binding by the major London binder Francis Bedford (1799-1883), who was known for the quality of his craftsmanship. In addition to having untrimmed leaves, our copy has the Advertisement leaf, which is normally absent. The present work appears at auction very infrequently: we are able to trace only two copies offered since 1991. (ST20883)

Price: $7,500.00