Oxford, 1752

CAEDMON (fl. 657-684). Caedmonis monachi paraphrasis poetica Genesios ac praecipuarum Sacrae paginae Historiarum. Amsterdam: Christopher Cunrad. The Hague: Adrian Vlacq, 1655 [i.e. Oxford: 1752].

Second issue of Caedmon’s Hymn, the earliest surviving English poem attributed to a specific author. The first edition was published in 1655 from Bodleian MS Junius 11, a 10th century manuscript. A century later, at Oxford, Edward Rowe Mores (1731-1778) reissued the sheets alongside two new supplementary leaves of Notes, and a replacement title and preface leaf. Both issues are rare, we locate only one 1655 first issue appearing at auction in the records of RBH and ABPC. This book's probable first owner was Daines Barrington, the prolific antiquarian and Anglo-Saxon enthusiast.

Quarto (194 x 157mm). Chiefly printed in the Old English Latin alphabet. (The four 18th century leaves lightly browned, O gathering detached and laid in, pale corner dampstain, last leaf bound a bit close.) Contemporary speckled calf (worn at edges, rebacked with old spine laid down). Provenance: Daines Barrington, 1727/28-1800 (contemporary ownership inscription to title).

[With:] Specimens of the Early English Poets. [Edited by George Ellis.] London: Edwards, 1790. Octavo. 19th century calf stamped in black and gilt (worn).