THE POETICAL WORKS OF SAMUEL JOHNSON.

JOHNSON, SAMUEL.

(London: Printed for the editor, and sold by G. Kearsley, 1785). 165 x 122 mm. (6 1/2 x 4"). viii, 196 pp., [2] leaves (ads). First Collected Edition.

Very attractive early 20th century honey-brown morocco, gilt, covers framed by three fillets, raised bands, spine compartments similarly framed, gilt lettering, densely gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers. Fleeman 85.2PW/3; Courtney & Smith, p. 157. Isolated faint foxing or trivial smudges, but a fine copy, clean and fresh internally, in a lustrous, virtually unworn binding.

This is an extremely appealing copy of Samuel Johnson's collected poems,works that demonstrate his literary range and famous wit. Best remembered for his lexicography and prose, Johnson (1709–84) was also a prolific poet throughout his long career. DNB tells us that at his poetic best, "Johnson showed a mastery of the satiric couplet which few beyond Chaucer, Dryden, and Pope in the history of English verse have equalled." Assembled the year after Johnson's death by publisher and bookseller George Kearsley, the present collection includes many of Johnson's verses, including "London" and "The Vanity of Human Wishes," alongside his Latin translation of Handel's "Messiah," and his tragedy in blank verse, "Irene." Ours is the second issue, which differs from the first only in the cancelled leaves, which Fleeman tells us correct p. iii, line six from "little remains for me, than to state" to "little remains for me, but to state," as well as correcting a number of errors in the "Messiah." The present copy is especially appealing, being extremely clean and fresh, as well as in a pleasing sympathetic binding. (ST20895)

Price: $850.00