The Life Of The Late William Cowper, Esq. Abridged From The Quarto Edition Of William Hayley, Esq.
1803. London: Printed For M. Jones, 1803.
Slim sm. 8vo, (4), 100pp. With a portrait frontispiece. Original tree calf, black label, ink signature of the time "Eliza Wilkins" at front and on title. A very good copy.
§ First edition thus. The first edition was in three quarto volumes with plates by William Blake printed by Catherine Blake. The second quarto edition was essentially identical but the plates were printed by Blake himself and are darker and stronger impressions. Hayley’s position as the most respectable and considerable literary figure who had known Cowper made him the inevitable choice to write the definitive work. This abridged edition came out while the first edition was still being printed. Russell, Bibliography of William Cowper, #351, p. 254. Item #123287
Price: $295.00