Poems by William Cowper, Esq., of the Inner Temple. With the Life of the Author by the Rev. T. Greatheed. In Two Volumes. Printed by W. Wilson for J. Bumpus et al, London, 1821.
Each volume is provided with a hidden fore-edge painting — visible only when the text block is fanned to the right, and invisible when the book is closed. One depicts a fly-fishing scene; the other, trolling for pike. No artist name or monogram is visible. The paintings have retained their colour well and are in Very Good condition.
A very attractive edition. Small 8vo (approximately 3.75 × 6.25 inches). Bound in full red morocco with gilt borders, all edges gilt. pp. x, 242 (Vol. I) and iv, 280 (Vol. II), with frontispiece to Volume I. Volume II includes at the rear “The Treatment of Hares” — an essay by the poet, transcribed from The Gentleman’s Magazine.
Condition: Minor spotting to both volumes; occasional finger marks. A few pencil notes to the preliminaries; cracked at the front endpaper, Volume II. Covers bumped and scuffed at the corners and spine tips, but both bindings remain firm and square. Good.
