[Clare-John- Double Fore-Edge Painting- Association Item] Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery

London: Taylor and Hessey, 1821.

8vo (165 x 102 mm). Attractive bound in contemporary straight grain morocco with gilt fillets and rococo style gilt "enantiomorphs:, spine in 4 compartments with 3 raised bands, gilt lettering and palmettes in compartments. All edges gilt, underneath revealing two exceptional FOREñEDGE PAINTINGS on each sides, one of Helpstone Parish Church, and the other Peterborough from Burghley Park. SIGNED IN BLINDSTAMP ON FRONT FLYLEAF BY THE PUBLISHERS (upper right), TAYLOR AND HESSEY. With the bookplates of John Hadmar Sticht, a bibliophile and the Saint Mary of the Woods College Library; Susanna Anbert (signature). An interesting association copy, the book either being owned by the publisher John Taylor, who was "introduced to John Clare, in 1819, through his cousin Edward Drury, a bookseller in Stamford. He polished Clare's grammar and spelling for publication (Royal Academy).

Price: $2,250.00   Item #6263