Poetical Works 1779

1st Edition thus, Aug. 19. 1779; At the Apollo Press, by the Martins, Edinburgh: Printed for John Bell near Exeter Exchange, Strand, London. Bell’s Edition, the Poets of Great Britain, Complete from Chaucer to Churchill. 32mo., 7.6cm x 12.5cm, 216 pp.

Leather bound with four raised bands to spine with gilt individual decorative motifs on panels. ‘Bell’s Poets’ on red leather square, ‘Garth’ on black leather square. Two b/w engraved frontispiece illustrations, one of Sir Sam. Garth (after Kneller).

Contents: The Life of Sir Samuel Garth; Preface; Copy of an Instrument, subscribed by the President etc in relation to the sick poor; To Anthony Henley, Esq; Poem to the Author; the Dispensary; Claremont; On Her Majesty’s Statue in St. Paul’s Churchyard etc; Epistles; Prologues; Ovid’s Metamorphoses; Index.

This edition is part of Bell's "Poets of Great Britain, Complete From Chaucer to Churchill". Garth was made Doctor of Physic in 1691 while at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. In 1696 he prompted the setting up of a Dispensary within the College precinct, where the poor could obtain free advice and cheap medicines. One of the poems printed here, The Dispensary, was a satirical riposte to his enemies in the medical profession gained as a result of this act of charity.

Sir Samuel Garth FRS (1661 – 18 January 1719) was an English physician and poet. Garth was born in Bolam in County Durham and matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1676, graduating B.A. in 1679 and M.A. in 1684. He took his M.D. and became a member of the College of Physicians in 1691. He settled as a physician in London and soon acquired a large practice. He was a zealous Whig, the friend of Addison and, though of different political views, of Pope. He ended his career as physician to George I, who knighted him in 1714. He died on 18 January 1719.

Condition: Binding tight, but some evidence of cracking of hinges at front and rear. Some scratches and staining and scuffing to cover. Some staining to front and rear pages. Tissue paper between frontispiece illustrations slightly ragged. Bookplate for Edward Peake on front pastedown. Inscribed on fep: M. A. Fendall (?) and Edward Peake. Bought at secondhand book shop in Cambridge. Sep. 12. 1916.

Please not that this lot will be posted from the UK.