Titles starting with P from Stuart Bennett Rare Books

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, 1748. [viii], 147pp., 12mo. An attractive copy in contemporary, probably original, blue patterned paste boards, vellum tips, handsomely rebacked by Bernard Middleton in calf with a gilt label. First collected edition, dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle, and the last collection overseen by the author who died the following year. He outlived most of his contemporaries, including Pope, with whom the pastorals in this volume had caused so much trouble in... more information

London: Printed for Bernard Lintot, [1707]. [xii], 64pp., 4to. With the half-title, pp. 33-40 misnumbered 31-38 as always. Somewhat browned throughout, as usual from the poor paper quality, a large copy. Early twentieth century half cloth, spine gilt-lettered; a little worn. First edition, the author’s best-known work and only play, the first adaptation of Racine's Phèdre. Samuel Johnson called it “a scholar's play, such as may please the reader rather than the spectator; th... more information

London: Printed for R. Griffiths, at the Dunciad, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; W. Meyer, May’s Buildings, St. Martin’s-Lane; J. Payne and J. Bouquet, 1751 . xxiv, 259, [5]pp., 12mo. With the two terminal leaves of publisher’s advertisements; paper flaw at pp. 121-122 resulting in a short tear into text with no loss, title leaf just a little dusty, but a very nice copy in contemporary gilt-ruled calf; expertly rebacked and gilt by Philip Dusel. Contemporary engraved bookplate of Meyler... more information

London: Printed for S. Crowder. . . and J. Robson, New Bond-Street. - A. Gordon, and C. Elliot, Edinburgh, 1778. [viii], 362pp., 8vo. With the half-title (this and the last leaf somewhat browned), verso of title inscribed “To Wm. Glendonwyne, Esq. from his affect. friend & humble servant the Author.” A fine and thick paper copy in a once-grand full calf binding, covers with gilt frames and spine fully gilt with a morocco label, all edges gilt; now worn with the spine ends chipped and the ... more information

London: Printed for C. Davis, 1736 . [ii], xiv, 294, [2]pp., 12mo. Without the terminal leaf of publisher’s advertisements, but an attractive copy in full nineteenth century brown morocco gilt by J. Mackenzie, g.e. Second edition under this title, not so stated, with the text taken from the first edition of 1568, a good choice as this was the most complete of the early editions of Skelton, a poet almost completely neglected in the seventeenth century. John Skelton is, of course, one of England
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London: Printed for Geo. B. Whittaker, 1825. [iii]-xiii, [i], 326, [2]pp., 8vo. Apparently bound without the half-title. Contemporary half calf, spine gilt; rubbed and with the spine head a bit chipped. First edition in English, published in France earlier the same year, and the first of Mérimée’s literary hoaxes: “Clara Gazul, the Spanish Comedian” did not exist. After writing what one critic calls “these highly Romantic works, he turned to writing the short novels ... more information

London: Printed by William Nicol, 1825. [viii], 16, [2], 17-32, [2], 33-281, [3]pp., 8vo. With the first and last blank leaves, title inscribed “For Miss Elizabeth Adams from her Friend the Author.” 4to. A fine fresh copy in contemporary russia gilt; expertly rebacked with most of the original spine. First collected edition of these highly romantic poems, with more than half the book devoted to a series about Italy and including the previously published (in 1818) “Farewell to Italy.... more information

London: Printed for Benjamin Tooke, 1682. [xxxviii], 141, [1]pp., 8vo. Title slightly soiled and a little minor staining at end, but an excellent copy in early twentieth century half blue morocco gilt. Second edition, “with Additions and Amendments,” including three new poems, and new commendatory verses by Nahum Tate. Flatman did much to popularize the pindaric in England, and his verses displayed, as James Sutherland has written, an “unusually sensitive ear for rhythm, and...an ability... more information

London: Printed for John Booth, G. G. and J. Robinson, and B. and J. White, 1794. [viii], 152pp., 8vo. With the initial blank leaf and the half-title, manuscript corrections to pp. 10, 90, and 151 in the hand of the author’s daughter Catharine Octavia Tollemache, who has inscribed the initial blank “Miss Helen Foote, with affectionate Regards from her Attached Friend Catharine Octavia Tollemache.” Early, probably circa 1830, cloth, morocco spine label. First octavo edition, following th... more information

London: Printed by W. Woodfall, 1771. [vii], iii, [1], 6-226, [2]pp., 4to. With a preliminary list of subscribers, a terminal leaf of advertisements and, following the advertisements, the inserted, octavo, “Errata Typographica” submitted “by a Scholar of the deceased Author.” Small embossed library stamp on the blank corner of the title and an ink number on verso, but a large copy, neatly bound in calf-backed marbled boards, antique. First edition, a posthumous production containin... more information

In the Savoy: Printed by T.N. for Henry Herringman, 1669. [viii], 414, [2]pp., 8vo. With the initial and final blank leaves. A fine and very attractive copy in contemporary mottled calf; elegantly rebacked with a fully gilt spine by Philip Dusel. Early engraved bookplate of William, Baron Craven of Hamstead Marshall, and later morocco book-label of the poet John Drinkwater, with his ownership inscription dated 1923. Fifth edition (not so stated), adding for the first time Donne's incomparable ele... more information

London: Printed for the editor, and J. Wallis, 1780. xii, 204pp., 12mo. With the half-title. A good fresh copy in contemporary calf; rebacked. First edition, uncommon, of what became a very popular miscellany which went through many editions. The selection is unimpeachable, and although perhaps not exclusively for children, would certainly have been presented to them, not least by Tomkins himself, a famous writing master known to Dr. Johnson and painted by Joshua Reynolds. OCLC records five copies,... more information

London: Printed for W. Hone, 1816. 32pp., 8vo. Engraved portrait; minor spotting, tiny hole in title, but an attractive copy in quarter sheep over marbled boards, spine gilt. “Sixteenth Edition,” of this hugely popular, albeit unauthorized, edition, capitalizing on the scandalous events that led to Byron’s self-imposed exile. Wise, Byron Bibliography, II, 68, describeds the eleventh edition: “Of the nine poems included in. . . Hone's piracy two (the Ode and Madam Lavalette) are... more information

London: Printed for B. Crosby, 1804. [viii], 256pp., 18mo. Engraved frontispiece. Some marginal spotting, but an attractive copy in slightly later half green calf over marbled boards, spine gilt. “A New Edition” of a collection first published in 1780, and here updated with such things as M.G. Lewis’s “Crazy Jane.” There are also a number of poems by women, including the Margravine of Anspach, Miss Mary Julia Young, and Mrs. Greville. This was a very popular miscellany con... more information

London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, within Grays-Inn Gate next Grays-Inn Lane, 1709. [ii], xxiv, [iv], 328pp., 8vo. Engraved frontispiece by DuGuernier after Howard (some cataloguers include this in the book’s pagination); small stains to the last two leaves. An attractive copy in late nineteenth-century full red morocco, spine gilt, gilt inner dentelles, g.e. First edition of the first authorized text of Prior’s poems, hugely popular and many times reprinted. This copy contains the earliest ... more information

London: Printed by W.C. Drake, 1822. viii, “144” [i.e. 154], 6pp., 12mo. With an index of poems at end, a few pencil notes (seeming to indicate dates for assigned texts), and occasional minor spotting. Contemporary sheep; expertly rebacked with a gilt spine. Ninth edition, first published in 1796, this edition with a new “advertisement” following the dedication to the school patronesses, where the editor “acknowledges her obligations for the increasing demand for this little b... more information

London: Whittaker & Co. . . . And E. Parry, Chester, [1837]. cxv, [i], 300pp., large 8vo (10 x 6½ inches). Lithographed portrait and plate, the latter showing the author’s residence in Chester. Preliminaries a little spotted, but a handsome copy in the original blindstamped purple cloth, spine gilt; just a little wear to extremities. First collected edition, by the “Bard of Snowdon” and with many of the poems on Welsh subjects; the colophon declares that the work was printed... more information

London: Printed by T. Wilkins, 1792. 16pp., 8vo. A nice large, fresh copy, disbound. First and only edition, a satire in the form of a one-act play set onstage. It decries the architectural changes in the theatre, almost entirely rebuilt in 1792, a major result of which had been the elimination of the shilling-a-seat gallery known as “the gods.” Lowe, Arnott & Robinson, English Theatrical Literature, 1178.... more information

London: Printed for C. Davis, 1741. [ii], v-xvi, 368pp., 8vo. Title leaf a cancel, replacing the original issue’s bifolium with an initial advertisement leaf, a couple of leaves with marginal spotting to fore-edge, one of which (pp. 47-48) has a couple of minor marginal tears - this probably an effect of twenty years in a warehouse before binding, as the remainder of the volume is unaffected. Contemporary half calf; covers chafed, expertly rebacked and gilt by Philip Dusel. First edition of one o... more information

Paris: Chez le Breton, 1735. [vi], 120pp., 12mo. Bound with Les Ennuis du Carnaval, comedie en Vers, en un Acte. Par Mrs Romagnesi & Riccoboni. Representée pour la premiere fois par les Comédiens italiens, le 15. fevrier 1735. Paris: Chez Prault, 1735. 48, [2]pp., 12mo. With the half-title and terminal leaf of approbation. Together with three other pieces, all French plays, bound in worn but solid contemporary calf. First editions, uncommon and interesting French plays by expatria... more information