POEMS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS by PYE, Henry James, 1745-1813 - 1787

London: John Stockdale. 1787. First Edition. Hardcover. Two volumes, octavo (21 cm), in early / period half calf and marbled boards, gilt-lettered spine labels. pp vi, 29.; [4], 335, with an engraved frontispiece in each volume (of Faringdon Hill in Vol. 2.. Shallow chip across head of spines, moderate wear to outer corners, joints starting, with the joints of vol. I a bit tender, but all the boards are secure; offsetting from the frontispieces, one contents leaf a little loose, scattered modest foxing, but generally very clean and fresh. ESTC N12104. First collected edition, with some pieces appearing for the first time. Pye was an industrious and prolific poet, more admired for the "correctness" of his verses than for their content. Appointed Poet Laureate in 1790, mainly for political reasons, he was often the target of "Peter Pindar" (John Wolcot) and other satirists for the insipidity of his annual New Year and birthday odes, and is considered by some to have been the worst Laureate. "Lord Byron’s ‘Better to err with Pope than shine with Pye’ is one of the kinder estimates of his work" (Kunitz & Haycraft). Still, Pye had abilities as a translator, critic, and literary theorist not matched by most other Laureates. This book includes some of his earlier work, which was often about country pursuits. Of special note is his poem "Aerophorion" (Vol. 1, pp 153-61. "This little poem was written on seeing Mr. Sadler, the first ENGLISH AERONAUT, ascend in his Balloon from the Physic Garden in Oxford, in November 1784." - footnote. Sadler was indeed the first English balloonist, eventually reaching 13,000 feet, traveling 50 miles. 1.5 kg parcel.; Octavo .