John Keats

Endymion: A Poetic Romance

Taylor and Hessey

1818

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20,000 USD

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Description

First edition, second issue, a superb copy in original boards of the second of only three lifetime publications by Keats, comprising his longest single sustained poem, famous for its opening line: “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.”

  • John Keats (English).
  • With imprint on verso of half-title reading "T. Miller, Printer, Noble Street, Cheapside." and with errata leaf in two states. 
  • London: for Taylor and Hessey, 1818.
  • ix, [iv], 207, [1], [4, ads date 1 May 1818].
  • 8vo.
  • Uncut in original publisher's boards, probably later printed paper title label to spine reading "Endymion / A /Poetic/ Romance."
  • In a custom brown cloth clamshell box.


So savage and malevolent were the reviews of this poem by Blackwoods and the Quarterly—“Lockhart found it exquisitely funny that an apothecary, a fellow who confessedly knew no Greek, who had to read Homer in a translation, should venture on a classic theme” (MacGillivray)—that Keats’ supporters thereafter blamed the reviewers for Keats’ early death. This copy has the second-issue imprint to the verso of the half-title “T. Miller, Printer, Noble Street, Cheapside” and includes both states of the errata leaf (pp. xi-xii) with 5-line errata and 1-line erratum.

Literature

MacGillivray A2.

Ashley III:13.

Tinker 1419.

Hayward 232.

Condition Report

Revive
Fair
Star iconGood
Very Good
Like New

Light wear to covers.

Some sporadic foxing and toning to text.

Bookplate.

Fine.

Feature(s)

First Edition

Language

English

Subject

Poetry, Literature, English literature and history

SKU

BX4GB

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