DONNE, John (1572-1631). Poems. London: M[iles] F[lesher] for John Marriot, 1633.

The first edition of John Donne's collected poems. The passionate wit of John Donne has made him beloved since his own time, although his canonical favor has waxed and waned depending on the spirit of the age. Most of Donne's work circulated only in manuscript during his life, and here is lovingly collected from those copies two years after his death. "The text of this first edition of Donne's collected Poems does not appear to have been derived from any single source. Grierson and later editors, notably Gardner and Milgate, believe that the original compiler used two sources belonging to the two main groups of surviving manuscripts, but made changes on his own authority and by reference to yet other manuscripts. The resulting text has more authority than any other in print" (Keynes). Grolier Donne 81; Keynes 78; Pforzheimer 296; STC (2nd ed.) 7045.

Quarto (186 x 137mm). "The Printer to the Understanders" and "Hexastichon Bibliopolae" bound after the title in the middle of the first gathering and the uncancelled, 35-line state of Nn1. (A little browned at end). Light blue morocco by Ramage, edges gilt (spine a little sunned). Provenance: cancelled early inscription on title dated 1654 – Sir Thomas Brooke (his sale, Sotheby's, 25 May 1921) – Lord Petre (armorial bookplate).

RK
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