The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, Esq; Containing All His Original Poems, Tales, and Translations. Now First Collected and Published Together in Four Volumes, with Explanatory Notes and Observations, Also an Account of His Life and Writings. London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson, MDCCLX (1760).
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Provenance:
Bookplate of George Paton depicting a hand holding a rose, with the words "Virtute Viget" (He Flourished bny Virtue) and "Geo. Paton Custom. House Ed r" (George Paton Custom House Edinburgh).
This is the bookplate of the Scottish bibliographer George Paton (1721-1807) who came from a family of booksellers and printers, who had a clerkship at Custom-House. He is known for acquiring a large collection of antiquarian books and antiquities by living very frugally to the point where he ate very little and not very often. Paton is also associated with the publisher Constable and was mentioned in the preface of Gough's British Topography (second edition).
Ink ownership inscription of Emma Campbell.
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Size: 135 x 207 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[frontis, t.p., iii-xxxiv, 6pp., 1pp., 2pp., 387pp., half title, iii-lxxxviii]; [t.p., 6pp., 480, half title, iii-lii]; [t.p., 2pp., 494pp.]; [t.p., 2pp., 456pp.]
Rebound half brown calf over marbled paper backed boards with red tooled labels to spines in compartments between raised bands. All boards securely attached. Bindings lightly rubbed and scuffed in places, but overall near fine. Very minor shelf and edge wear. Red page edges dulled, with the top edges darkened as often. Text blocks very clean with light toning and occasional foxing. Some original blanks are present, toned and with edge tears, most lacking and replaced with newer blanks. Contemporary appearing bookplate fragment attached to the reverso of the title page in volume one, the bookplate is without loss and attached in other volumes. Ink ownership inscription to original blank in volume two. First few and last few leaves with edge toning. A lovely set of the works of Dryden.
