A Core Collection by Byron, George Gordon - 1823

London, 1823. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine. 21 titles. All are 1st editions, 1st issues, except as noted. The quality high, the opportunity apparent. Byron was the first rock star and more romantic and, at the same time, more modern, than any of his contemporaries. 1. Hours of Idleness (Newark: S. and J. Ridge, 1807) [bound with] Fare Thee Well (London: Privately printed for John Murray, 1816). Contemporary 3/4 calf and marbled boards rubbed along the extremities, foxing tot the first and last few blanks, armorial bookplate to the front pastedown and offsetting from it to the first blank, Fare Thee Well margins trimmed down to size, a 12mmx30mm rectangle clipped from the inner margin of the first leaf, two horizontal creases, else, overall, very good. First leaf with "J. Green 1815" watermark. One of only 50 copies printed.

1a. Hours of Idleness (Newark: S. and J. Ridge, 1807). The large paper issue (an unauthorized 2nd printing, with minor type variations). Original boards and paper label, soiled, joints strengthened, two bookplates to the front pastedown (with offsetting to the free blank) one bookplate to the rear pastedown, else internally clean and very good. Cloth solander box.

2. Poems Original and Translated (Newark: S. and J. Ridge, 1808). Modern boards, some occasional foxing, particularly on the first few leaves, else internally clean and very good.

3. English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (London: Cathorn, 1809). 2nd impression. Original printed boards, soiled, chips to the spine tips, hinge strengthened, some soiling to the pages, else very good. Half morocco chemise slipcase.

4. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Cantos I-IV in 3 vol. (London: Murray, 1812, 1816, 1818). All uncut. Original boards on vol I with chipping to the spine, boards rubbed, front hinge strengthened, neat ownership signature to the title page, page of handwritten notes on an early blank and some more notes on the half title, else clean and very good. Vol II original wrappers, chipped and a light damp-stain, page edges soiled, else very good. Vol III original boards, spine chipped, corners bumped, hinges strengthened, some foxing on the first and last several leaves, very good. All volumes with matching cloth chemise slipcases.

5. The Giaour (London: Murray, 1813). Original wrappers, spine and extremities chipped, pages toned, bottom corner of the last gathering foxed. Half morocco chemise slipcase.

6. Lara, a tale [and] Jacqueline, a tale (London: Murray, 1814). Original boards and paper label, pages uncut, chipping to the spine tips and label, rubbed along the extremities, neat ownership signature to the title page, sporadic light foxing, else very good. An old half morocco chemise slipcase.

7. The Corsair (London: Murray 1814). Contemporary wrappers with a few chips and marks, toning and soiling to the page edges, very good. Half morocco chemise slipcase.

8. Hebrew Melodies (London: Murray 1815). Original wrappers, uncut and unopened, repair to the rear corner and top of the spine, else internally clean and very good. Full morocco chemise slipcase.

9. The Prisoner of Chillon (London: Murray, 1816). Original wrappers, pages uncut, chips and creases, manuscript titling to the front wrapper, neat ownership signature to the half title, very good. Cloth solander box.

10. The Siege of Corinth --- Parasina (London: Murray, 1816). Original wrappers, some light spot, toning to the spine and chipped at the tips, clean internally and very good. Cloth solander box.

11. Monody On the Death of the Right Honourable R. B. Sheridan (London: Murray, 1816). Contemporary wrappers (originally issued without covers), some toning to the page edges, else near fine. Cloth chemise slipcase.

12. Lord Byron's Works, 4 Vols. (London: Murray, 1816). Original boards, paper labels, pages uncut, hinges strengthened on vol. 1, vol 1 title page with tears to the bottom margin with no loss, some staining and wear to the extremities to the boards of all volumes, generally clean internally and a very good set. Cloth solander box.

13. Manfred (London: Murray, 1817). Original wrappers, pages uncut, old rebacking with similar paper, manuscript title to the front wrapper, rubbing to the extremities, pages toned, very good. Cloth solander box.

14. Beppo (London: Murray, 1818). Original wrappers, chipped at the spine tips, some light foxing and soiling, old booksellers description tipped in to the front blank, else very good. Cloth chemise portfolio.

15. Don Juan, Cantos I-XVI (London, 1819, 1821, 1823, 1824). 6 vols., The first a 4to. the others 8vo. Original boards. Vol. 1 (cantos I-II), with an old rebacking, paper label chipped, old repairs to the corners and along the foredge of the rear board, some soiling internally, but generally clean. Vol 2 (cantos III-V), cantos numbers in manuscript to the spine, joints split but holding, rubbing to the extremities, sporadic foxing and soiling. Vol. 3 (cantos VI-VIII), paper label chipped, rubbing to the extremities, spine tips chipped, foxing to the endpapers, else internally bright and clean. Vol. 4 (cantos IX-XI) paper label chipped, rubbing to the extremities, spine head chipped, foxing to the endpapers, bookseller label to the front pastedown, else internally clean. Vol. 5 (cantos XII-XIV), paper label chipped, rubbing to the extremities, spine tips chipped, a few little ink marks to the boards, bookseller label to the front pastedown, offsetting to the titlepage and rear notes else internally clean. Vol. 6 (cantos XV-XVI), paper label chipped, rubbing to the extremities, offsetting to the endpapers and title page, bookseller label to the front pastedown, else internally clean. A very good copy overall.

16. Mazeppa (London: Murray, 1819). Original wrappers, some spotting, creases, chips to the spine, light foxing internally, an old bookseller description pasted to the front blank, else very good. Full morocco pull-off chemise by Riviere.

17. Marino Faliero --- Prophecy of Dante (London: Murray, 1821). Original boards, paper label, pages uncut. Rubbing and toning to the extremities, bottom corners pushed, bookplate to the front pastedown old bookseller description tipped into the ad leaf, internally clear and beautiful, very good. Full morocco pull-off slipcase by Riviere.

18. Letter to **** ****** on the Rev. W. L. Bowles' Strictures on The Life and Writings of Pope (London: Murray, 1821). Later 19th century painted white wrappers with the title in manuscript and a book plate, blue endpapers with an ownership signature. Front wrapper split at the hinge but holding, some occasional spotting, else very good. An old half calf chemise slipcase.

19. Sardanapalus a Tragedy [and] Two Foscari a Tragedy [and] Cain a Mystery (London: Murray, 1821). Original boards and paper label, pages uncut, top edge of the spine chipped, rubbed along the extremities, front joint split but holding, first and last several leaves lightly foxed, else internally clean and very good. An old half morocco chemise slipcase.

20. Werner (London: Murray, 1822). Modern 3/4 calf and cloth binding with the original wrappers bound in. Some soiling, foxing and an ownership signature to the front wrapper, else very good.

21. The Age of Bronze (London; Hunt, 1823). Original wrappers, staining, creases, wear to the extremities, pages tanned, else very good. Half morocco chemise slipcase.