The Fleece; A Poem in Four Books

London: R. & J. Dodley, Pall Mall, 1757. First U.K. Edition. Quarto. 26cm. Twentieth century marbled paper covered boards with a black leather and gilt title label to spine. 156pp. Some very light scuffing and wear to the spine ends and extremities, strong tight, and solid; internally clean and fresh, a little toning to the page edges, manuscript corrections in ink in several locations. A very clean and presentable copy. Johnson spoke poorly of the work: "The subject, Sir, cannot be made poetical. How can a man write poetically of serges and druggets?" [ESTC T35610; NCBEL 2, 546; Rothschild 830; Hayward, English Poetry, 176.]. A paeon to the nobility, practicality, and ubiquity, of the aristocratic sheep, and the value of its wool.