The Poetical Works of James Thomson . . . With the Life of the Author. (1803)
Description
The Poetical Works of James Thomson, With His Last Corrections, Additions & Improvements . . . With the Life of the Author. (1803)
by James Thomson, with Patrick Murdoch
Full Title: The Poetical Works of James Thomson, With His Last Corrections, Additions & Improvements. Containing The Seasons, Liberty, The Castle of Indolence, and Poems on Several Occasions. With the Life of the Author.
7 x 4 ¼. In English. Printed for L.J. Highman, London, 1803. FIRST EDITION thus. 394 pp. Verified complete via WorldCat. A RARE in commerce copy of the poetical works of James Thomson, with 'A Life of the Author' penned by the Reverend Patrick Murdoch. Full calf with double gilt rule along both boards. Minimal shelf wear. NEAR FINE. Spine head and tail in strong condition as are the boards’ corners. Hinges skillfully restored in 2020. Eight raise bands with elaborate gilt found throughout spine compartments. Some fading, but rather trivial. Marbled pastedowns and end papers with matching foredges. Title page, along the text block, with some very light browning and occasional foxing. Overall, a handsome copy indeed.
James Thomson (1700 – 1748) was a Scottish poet and playwright, best known for his masterpiece “The Seasons” and the lyrics of “Rule, Brittania!,” originating from his poem. When Thomson's mother died in 1725, be began to write the poem ‘Winter,’ which was first published in 1726. The following year he wrote and published ‘Summer.’ He wrote ‘Spring’ in 1728 and finally ‘Autumn’ in 1730, when the set of four was published together as “The Seasons.” Patrick Murdoch (who died in 1774) was an author, publisher, and mathematician, who published a well-received biography of the poet.
Comes with a NEAR FINE pocket version (5 x 2 ¾) of “The Seasons,” printed by S. Hamilton, Weybridge, London, 1811. Very attractive etched frontis.
Price: $295
Shipping: FREE via USPS Priority Mail
Inventory Number: 19059
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