Pope Homer Iliad 1715-20 & Odyssey 1725-26 Folio 1st Eds 11 Vols 18th C. Calf Nr For Sale

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OFFERED WITH is a very rare and highly desirable complete 11-volume folio set of THE 1715-20 FIRST EDITION OF ALEXANDER POPE’S TRANSLATION OF HOMER’S ILIAD TOGETHER WITH THE 1725-26 FIRST EDITION OF ALEXANDER POPE’S TRANSLATION OF HOMER’S ODYSSEY, printed at London in 11 folio volumes for Bernard Lintot from 1715 through 1726, ALL 11 VOLUMES COMPLETE IN ALL RESPECTS AND INCLUDING ALL ILLUSTRATIONS, considered by Samuel Johnson to be the most perfect of all works of English poetry, adorned with beautiful engraved plates and maps, and BOUND UNIFORMLY IN EARLY 18TH CENTURY ENGLISH FULL PANELED AND MARBLED CALF, CONTEMPORARY TO THE TIME OF PUBLICATION.

THE FIRST EDITION OF POPE’S HOMER, BEING THE FIRST EDITIONS OF EACH VOLUME OF THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY, PRINTED AT LONDON IN ELEVEN FOLIO VOLUMES FORM 1715 THROUGH 1726, CONSIDERED BY SAMUEL JOHNSON AS THE MOST PERFECT OF ENGLISH POEMS, AND STILL (PACE HAROLD BLOOM) THE DEFINITIVE ENGLISH HOMER.

THIS SET IS COMPLETE IN ALL RESPECTS AND INCLUDES ALL ILLUSTRATIONS: THE FAMOUS FULL-PAGE ENGRAVED PORTRAIT OF HOMER BY GEORGE VERTUE; THE TWO LEAVES OF ENGRAVED ANTIQUITIES; THE DOUBLE-PAGE MAP OF HOMERIC GREECE AND PHRYGIA; THE FOLDING PLAN OF THE SEIGE OF TROY; AND THE GLORIOUS FULL-PAGE ENGRAVING OF THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES.

The full title of the first volume of the Iliad reads as follows:

“The Iliad of Homer, / Translated by Mr. Pope. / … / London: / Printed by W. Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott between the Temple-Gates. 1715.”

The full title of the sixth and final volume of the Iliad reads as follows:

“The Iliad of Homer, / Translated by Mr. Pope. / Vol. VI. / … / London: / Printed by W. Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott between the Temple-Gates. 1720.”

The full title of the first volume of the Odyssey reads as follows:

“The Odyssey of Homer, / [engraved vignette subtitled ‘Pope’s Odyssey’] / London: / Printed for Bernard Lintott. / MDCCXXV [1725].”

The full title of the fifth and final volume of the Odyssey reads as follows:

“The Odyssey of Homer, / Translated from the Greek. / Vol. V. / London: / Printed for Bernard Lintott. / MDCCXXVI [1726].”

Adorning the volumes is what must be the finest engraved portrait of Homer, done by George Vertue, two very fine maps of Homeric Greece and Phrygia on one folding bifolium, and a beautiful folding plate depicting in ornate and accurate detail the Siege of Troy. There is also the wonderful full-page engraving of the Shield of Achilles, which is

Pope’s translation of the Iliad took him six years to complete, but made him financially secure for the first time in his life (and for the rest of his life). Interestingly, the translation was composed generally upon the backs of envelopes; this manuscript has been preserved and a section of it is on display at the British Library. The Odyssey was completed at a more rapid pace and involved the collaboration of Elijah Fenton and William Broome.

Pope’s translation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey have justly been lauded for centuries. No less a genius than Samuel Johnson considered Pope’s Homer the finest work in all of English poetry (perhaps excepting Shakespeare) and the culmination of the development of English literature. It was commonly said through the 18th and 19th centuries that Pope’s Homer had ‘tuned the English tongue.’

The eleven volumes of the Iliad and Odyssey are complete in all respects, including all illustrations. The eleven volumes include all privilege leaves and half-titles. Each book in the first volume of the Iliad is paginated separately, as follows: Preliminaries & unpaginated Preface; 55 page Essay; 36-page Book 1 & 37-page Observations; 50-page Book 2 & 41-page Observations; 27-page Book 3 & 30-page Observations; 30-page Book 4 & 22-page Observations. The next five books comprise the following numbered pages respectively: 306; 263; 320; 299; 221. Added to this are the titles, half-titles, indices, and plates. The five volumes of the Odyssey include the following numbered pages respectively, plus the titles, preliminaries and addenda: 252 (plus of course the substantial preliminary essays); 384; 327; 286; and 289 (plus the 16 numbered pages of the ‘Battle of the Frogs and Mice’). Each volume measures 29.5 cm by 19 cm by 2.7 cm; each leaf measures about 290 mm by 185 mm.

The eleven volumes are uniformly bound in early 18th century calf decorated in blind in a paneled design. THE BINDINGS ARE ENTIRELY ORIGINAL TO THE EARLY 18TH CENTURY. The bindings are in about very good condition, with some hinges weakening but all boards still holding quite firmly by the cords (see photographs) and strong book-blocks. Most of the spine labels are lacking, although some have been retained, and the boards show moderate scuffing and moderate wear at the edges and corners.

Some copies of the quarto issue of the Odyssey include a portrait-bust of Homer. ESTC does not call for any such portrait in the folio issue and I have never encountered a folio Odyssey with the portrait. No example of the folio issue in the sale record includes the portrait. I therefore conclude that the portrait of Homer in the quarto issue of the Odyssey was not included in the folio issues and is not called for.

Internally, the volumes are in very good to excellent condition, with ample margins and clear print throughout. The plates and the map are excellent impressions. Most leaves are quite clean; some, however, in the Iliad are browned, including the engraving of the Plain of Troy and that of the Shield of Achilles. The Plain of Troy shows a short and unobtrusive closed tear, while the Shield of Achilles shows a tear, without loss, along its lower left fold. There is offsetting upon the facing page at each of the engravings. This remains a very pleasing example of a beautifully produced and extremely important first edition.

In all, this is a very rare and highly desirable complete 11-volume folio set of THE 1715-20 FIRST EDITION OF ALEXANDER POPE’S TRANSLATION OF HOMER’S ILIAD TOGETHER WITH THE 1725-26 FIRST EDITION OF ALEXANDER POPE’S TRANSLATION OF HOMER’S ODYSSEY, printed at London in 11 folio volumes for Bernard Lintot from 1715 through 1726, ALL 11 VOLUMES COMPLETE IN ALL RESPECTS AND INCLUDING ALL ILLUSTRATIONS, considered by Samuel Johnson to be the most perfect of all works of English poetry, adorned with beautiful engraved plates and maps, BOUND UNIFORMLY IN EARLY 18TH CENTURY ENGLISH FULL PANELED AND MARBLED CALF, CONTEMPORARY TO THE TIME OF PUBLICATION, and OFFERED WITH .

Please take the time necessary to review the photos below in order to gain a better understanding of the content and condition of the volume. Please also take a moment to view my other sales of rare and desirable English and Continental printed books dating from the 15th through the 19th century.

Please take the time necessary to review the photos below in order to gain a better understanding of the content and condition of the volume. Please also take a moment to view my other sales of rare and desirable English and Continental printed books dating from the 15th through the 19th century.

Shipment is free for customers in the United States and Canada. For U.S. clients we ship either FedEx Ground for large shipments or USPS Priority for single books or smaller amounts. We ship using Canada Post for Canadian customers.

 Canadian buyers please note that we list on .com which automatically charges for international shipment. Your invoice will be amended to reflect free shipping.

 Please note as of January 2013 USPS has increased International shipping charges on average by 25%.

We charge for shipment of international orders.  We try to ship using USPS flat rate priority-mail boxes and we charge for shipment at cost or slightly below. Small 12mo books are shipped for USD 24.00. The cost of shipment for any book in Octavo, Quarto or small folio format is USD 60.00. The cost of shipment for large folios or quartos of equivalent size is USD 78.00. Multiple folio volumes and sets are, of course, generally more expensive and the cost of their shipment will always be quoted in the listing. With all of our sales if an individual client wins multiple books we charge only charge for the shipment of one book and cover the cost of shipment of the rest. Please note that mobile devices do not yet display correctly the shipment costs for international customers. Please enquire or consult the non-mobile site in order to obtain complete information concerning the cost of shipment.

All purchases save those by Canadian clients are shipped from New York State once per week, weather permitting. If you require faster service or special handling please let us know and we will do our best to accomodate.

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This item has been shown 363 times. Pope Homer Iliad 1715-20 & Odyssey 1725-26 Folio 1st Eds 11 Vols 18th C. Calf Nr: $5,800