Ion; A Tragedy in Five Acts. To Which Are Added A Few Sonnets. Second Edition.

Book. London: Printed by A. J. Valpy, for private circulation. Not Published. [1835.] 8vo, early 3/4 morocco, marbled boards; raised bands, gilt compartments. Spine a little scuffed, minor marginal stains and moderate soiling; a very good copy. Second edition, with additions. A presentation copy, inscribed "To William Evans, Esq. With the author's sincere regards." Talfourd's longtime friend Evans was proprietor of the periodical "The Pamphleteer", for which Talfourd occasionally wrote. More significantly, Evans was instrumental in introducing Talfourd to Lamb and Wordsworth, and a circle that included Hazlitt, Coleridge and Godwin. Talfourd's tragedy "Ion' is considered his chief work. It was first printed in a private edition of April 1835. This second edition, similarly for private circulation, was issued in October of the same year, with a new preface, substantial textual revisions and eight of Talfourd's sonnets. The play was not published until the following year. A nice association copy of a scarce work. The title also bears the subsequent presentation inscriptions by Evans, "To Picton Milner Esq. from W. E.", and Milner, "To R. E. Mount Esq, from P.M.".