Item #29002 No. 1. [-40] of the Microcosm. George Canning, John Hookham Frere.
No. 1. [-40] of the Microcosm

No. 1. [-40] of the Microcosm

Winsor: printed for the author and sold by C. Knight, 1786-7. A complete run of the original issues of the most important school periodical of the last part of the 18th century, produced at Eton and widely noticed in London and elsewhere. 8vo, pp. 455; together 40 numbers in 1 volume, bound in contemporary red morocco, gilt floral borders on covers, gilt-lettered direct on gilt-decorated spine, inner dentelles, a.e.g.; slightly rubbed, small ink stain on upper cover; all else near fine. "Contributors included Lord Henry Spencer, Capel Lofft, George Canning, and John Hookham Frere. The early satire and burlesque from the last two is doubly interesting in view of their later work on the Anti-Jacobin" (Graham, English Literary Periodicals, p. 137). This is a very unusual set with all 40 numbers present here in first printings, each with its own title page. As The Microcosm attracted the attention of the public, the demand for copies rapidly increased, and it was necessary to reprint the early issues. Consequently, sets are generally found bound up with a general title-p. bearing an additional London imprint, and with the first half dozen or so numbers designated "second" or "third" edition. There were also within a few years, a number of collected reprints. This particular set shows signs of having been collected together as the issues first appeared: at the top of the title-p. for nos. 33-35 and 37-38 is written, "Mr. Boldero, 3 copies." CBEL II, 1350 and 1352. Item #29002

Price: $2,500.00

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