Description
AB118315, Young Edward; Blair Robert, The Complaint : OR, Night-Thoughts On Life, Death, & Immortality. (Nights One to Five) [Bound with] The Grave: A Poem, London, 1742, R Dodsley & M Cooper M Cooper, First Edition, Half Calf and Marbled Boards, Very Good, -1743. pp. (6)= blank, frontis, general title, blank, title, blank), ii, 30; 3-44; 3-34; 47, (1) Dodsley’s A Proposal; 4-60; 39. (No half title to any of the Nights). Night the First is a 2nd edition (the first in quarto), the Second & Third & the v. scarce The Grave are first editions. whilst the fourth & the fifth are undated. The general title for Night-Thoughts dated 1743 is that for the Fifth (the first collected) edition. Illustrated capitals & decorative head & tail pieces throughout. Contemporary ownership signatures on recto of George Vertue’s frontis. & (a John Hilyard’s) at the head of Night the First dated in the year of publication & The Grave. The gutter edge of the title-page vignette was so heavily printed it “cut” the page & is repaired on its verso. Occasional water-stains at fore edge & in Hilyard’s hand one or two single word adjustments to text e.g. “if” for “of” or “heart” for “breast” in a different hand in the midst of the text is written “Sweet Love my Dear A-” finishing with a blot of ink & small closed tear in the page; text unaffected. Recently re-backed with raised bands, dark red & black morocco labels ruled & lettered in gilt & new end papers. Foxon Y 29, 32, 36, 43 & 47, & B 271.
