The Book of the Sonnet (Edited By Leigh Hunt and Samuel Adams Lee) by Hunt, Leigh, 1784-1859 - 1867

New York: W.E. Benjamin, 1867. Benjamin, Walter Evarts. Octavo. 2 vol set, large paper edition, #65 of 100 copies, each with two etchings of Leigh Hunt by William Evarts Benjamin. The only other recorded large paper edition is at the Newberry Library. Williams Evarts Benjamin (1839-1940) who began as a partner with his brother Walter R. Benjamin, soon moved from general books to fine antiquarian works. His customers included Walter Hoe, Beverly Chew, and a host of others (Dictionary of American Antiquarian Booksellers, p. 13ff). Since he was also a major financer and President of the Atlantic Coast Electric Railway and was Director of the Virginia Railway, he was able to acquire the finest items and still give a large gift of $75,000 in 1927 to the Library of Congress. Here he produced not only one of Leigh Hunt's finest works but in a large paper limited edition which is ideal for the collector who also is a reader of the great writers of sonnets from Shakespeare, Sidney, Spencer, Byron and Keats to the Hunts themselves. Bound in full blue-green morocco by Estes & Lauriat, raised bands with compartments lettered and decorated in gilt and red, corners decorated in gilt and red, beautiful gilt decorated doublures, top edges gilt, a very nice set with minor spots of rubbing.