Italy, a Poem.
London: Edward Moxon, 1844. Item #1332 Small 8vo. 170 x 105 mm., [7 ¾ x 4 ¼ inches]. (8 ads), viii, 341, [1], [1] ads. Illustrated with 15 wood engravings by J. Thomson after designs by Thomas Stothard, R.A. Bound in publisher’s embossed dark brown cloth, title in gilt on the spine; small tear to head of spine, otherwise a very good copy in original condition. Bound-in at the front of the volume are 8 pages of advertisements for Moxon, dated January 1, 1846. One of many edition of Samuel Roger’s highly successful and often reprinted poems originally published anonymously in 1822. A contemporary review of Italy, a Poem, which appeared London Literary Gazette, reads in part: “The name of the author is carefully guarded but we think there can be little hesitation in ascribing it to Southey. . .The excellence so far outweighs the defects, that we must commend Italy as one of the sweetest and most pleasing little volumes published for a long period.” Pine-Coffin writes, “Apart from its intrinsic merits, it contains many passages of interest to the student of touring at the period.” The inscription which appears on the half-title reads: “Jane Catherine Baillie/ From her sincere friend/ Samuel Rogers/ Oct. 8, 1847. Jane Catherine Baillie is thought to be the niece of Joanna Baillie, the poet and playwright, whose first work Plays of Passion, was praised by Samuel Rogers in his review printed in 1798.
London Literary Gazette, pp. 33-34, 1822. R. S. Pine-Coffin. Bibliography of British and American Travel in Italy to 1860, n. 814-9 (p. 163.). See S. Austin Allibone, A Critical Dictionary of English Literature and British and American Authors, II, pp.1853-1856 for a detailed bio-bibliographical information on Roger’s works include numerous quotations from contemporary reviews appearing in both English and American literary publications.
Price: $250.00