[Rarebooks] FS: The scarce First Issue of Shakespeare's POEMS [1709] in a beautiful Cosway binding

[Charles Agvent]

Fromour new catalog--SUMMER MISCELLANY 2014--which contains 127 select 
items, all new arrivals, in a variety of fields. Highlights include 
Thoreau's WORKS with a leaf of manuscript mentioning Walden Pond; one of 
25 special copies of the Gregynog Aesop; Louise Bryant's acting copy of 
Eugene O'Neill's first book along with several John Reed association 
copies; a long run of signed and limited Raymond Carver titles; the 
first book of music by a Native American; a lengthy unpublished 
manuscript about Alaskan gold by poet Joaquin Miller; several 
ornithological works including Audubon's BIRDS OF AMERICA, Brisson's 
ORNITHOLOGIE, Lewin's BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN, most with beautiful 
hand-colored plates, and others; some scarce modern poetry and signed 
presidential books; signed copies of Emerson's POEMS, Rachel Carson's 
SILENT SPRING; and much more.


Here is a link to our illustrated pdf catalog on our website:
http://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/index.html?id=DLrIinxi&mv_pc=440


SHAKESPEARE, William. A COLLECTION OF POEMS, VIZ. I. VENUS AND ADONIS. 
II. THE RAPE OF LUCRECE. III. THE PASSIONATE PILGRIM. IV. SONNETS TO 
SUNDRY NOTES OF MUSICK. London: Bernard Lintot, [1709]. First Edition. 
The first issue, having the four sub-titles dated 1630, 1632, 1599, and 
1599 respectively, of the Second Edition of Shakespeare's Poems after 
the very scarce 1640 edition and the first to include VENUS AND ADONIS 
and THE RAPE OF LUCRECE. Small octavo (4" x 6-3/4") bound by Riviere and 
Son in a full gilt-decorated early 20th century brown morocco original 
Cosway binding with recessed panels on front and rear with inset oval 
watercolor miniatures on ivory by C.B. Currie under glass (signed on the 
front pastedown) with the Henry Sotheran imprint at the bottom of the 
verso of the front free endpaper; (4), 155 pages. Inserted is a page 
with the following printed information: "This is No. 893 of the Cosway 
Bindings invented by J. H. Stonehouse, with Miniatures on Ivory by Miss 
Currie." Both Stonehouse and Currie have SIGNED the page at the bottom. 
The book was beautifully rebacked in the past decade or so with a new 
spine that blends quite well with the covers. The Currie miniature at 
the front is after the Droeshout Portrait (1622) of Shakespeare used as 
the frontispiece to the First Folio. The rear miniature is a depiction 
of Venus and Adonis. At some point the volume suffered some water damage 
which is now most visible on the endpapers and first and last few pages 
of the text as well as slight damage to the portrait of Shakespeare. 
Still a beautiful binding on a rare and important book in overall Very 
Good condition.

Cosway bindings--named after the leading miniaturist of the Regency 
period, Richard Cosway (1742-1821)--were introduced in the early 1900s 
by John H.Stonehouse of Henry Sotheran & Company who conceived embedding 
miniature paintings in the covers of elaborately-tooled bindings. 
Harrison teamed with the Riviere bindery to create the bindings after 
his designs. Riviere hired Miss C. B. Currie to create the delicate 
miniature paintings on ivory inset into the covers and protected by thin 
panes of glass. Much imitated since, original Cosway bindings such as 
this, particularly when on a book of some importance, are highly 
desired. (#017373)     $15,000.00

http://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/017373.html

-- 
All books subject to prior sale. Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed. Postage additional: $10.00 for the first item; $5.00 for each 
thereafter. Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax. Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and 
Discover accepted. Books may be returned within 7 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value. We carry a 
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century 
Literary First Editions, Signed Books, Presidential Autographs, 
Illustrated Books, and the world's largest inventory of Limited Editions 
Club books. *We have been in business since 1987 and are proud to be 
members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and 
the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB).* Please feel 
free to contact us with any wants or offerings. Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT

291 Linden Road

Mertztown, PA 19539-8750

610-682-4750

info at charlesagvent.com

Please visit our shop: http://www.charlesagvent.com