Italy, A Poem (1830, first illustrated edition)

Unique association copy, presented by Samuel Rogers as unbound sheets to H.J. Bunbury, 1832

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First illustrated edition. Hardback, rebound (see the above) in full leather with five raised bands and gilt decoration and titling to the spine, and an attractive gilt panelled design to boards. All edges gilt, inner gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. 20.5 × 13.5cm, 284pp.

This copy carries an interesting inscription to the ffep, "This book unbound was presented to me by Mr Rogers himself, 1832. HJB". It is believed HJB was Henry John Bunbury, 7th Baronet of Barton Hall, Bury St Edmunds and Stannay Hall, Cheshire. Bunbury (1778–1860) was a British soldier and historian, and a friend and correspondent of Rogers, both men being part of the Holland House set in the 1830s.

Italy was Samuel Rogers largest work, and his last major piece. It was originally published in two parts in 1822 to 1828 and unillustrated, but it wasn't a great success, so this sumptuous illustrated edition was financed by the poet himself. It was inspired by a tour of the Continent by Rogers and his sister in 1814 as they travelled through Switzerland and Italy. Illustrated with steel engravings from works by J M W Turner, Thomas Stothard and Samuel Prout, and was noted for its refined, classical sensibility.

Condition

An attractive copy. The leather is in very good condition with light rubbing and bumping. The pages have a light waterstain to the fore-edge, and scattered, intermittent foxing throughout, a small number of pages have light-coloured but comprehensive foxing but all pages remain in strong readable condition. A rather nice copy with an interesting provenance.