Miscellany Poems. Containing Variety of New Translations of the Ancient Poets: Together with several Original Poems. Published and collated by John Dryden for J. Tonson in 1727 in London. The fifth edition.
[ESTC T117014]
Stunning full calf volumes, uniformly bound in (probably) original bindings comprising a total of 6 volumes, complete.
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Miscellany Poems, published by John Dryden for J. Tonson in 1727, is a renowned collection featuring translations of ancient poets alongside original works by Dryden himself. This fifth edition presents a diverse range of poems, including works by Greek and Roman authors skilfully rendered into English by Dryden, showcasing his mastery of language and poetic style. The collection also highlights Dryden's own imaginative and expressive compositions, making it a captivating blend of classical and contemporary poetry.
Some of the poets included are photographed with the contents pages, but a non-exhaustive list includes: Ovid, Horace, Theocritus, Virgil, Homer, John Milton, Andrew Marvell, John Dryden, Lucretius, Ben Jonson, Anacreon, Abraham Cowley, John Donne, Joseph Addison, Geoffrey Chaucer, Alexander Pope, etc. There are also some references to and commentaries on William Shakespeare, though none of Shakespeare's works are included as far as the contents implies.
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Condition:
Bindings are probably original. Spines rubbed and a bit dry. Would benefit from the application of a leather conditioner. Stain to foot of volume three's spine. Some wear to extremities with shelf & edge wear. Boards with occasional scuffs and a few marks but most remain very good. Very light rubbing to joints with all boards securely attached and bindings remaining secure and strong. Top page edge dulled as typical, all edges coloured red. Corners generally without deformation. All volumes without any significant shelf lean. Internally very clean, mild toning throughout with some heavier toning to endpapers and first few leaves of the first and third volume. Without any attached bookplates or ownership inscriptions but with a pencil bookcase reference number to front free endpaper versos, almost certainly of a private library collection and not a public one. Some offsetting to title pages from frontispieces. All volumes collate as complete with a frontispiece in all 6 volumes.
A very attractive set from the early 18th century.
