VERY RARE. Byron's second book, privately printed in, according to Moore, an edition of 100 copies. These were presumably all for presentation, the printed dedication reads 'to those friends at whose request they were printed'. The recipient, William John Bankes of Kingston Lacy, Dorset, was one of Byron's Trinity College friends. Byron referred to him as his 'collegiate pastor, and master and patron', and clearly sent him a copy soon after publication in December 1806, which elicited 'an unsolicited critique of measured praise and considerable frankness' (cf. Marchand, Byron a biography, p.127). On 6 March 1807 Byron sent a long reply to Bankes' criticism (Letters ed. Marchand I. p.110), promising him a copy of the forthcoming volume of Juvenilia.

Signed by the author 'George Lord Byron' on blank A1, inscribed in another hand on facing flyleaf 'Presented by Lord Byron to William John Bankes', later Bankes bookplate. Alteration, apparently in Byron's hand, on p.129 replacing 'I early' by 'my childhood'.

Wise, I p.5-6; Randolph p.115, describing the copy presented to Augusta Mary, Byron's sister. That copy has 8 cancels, while the present copy has only 3 cancels (pages 15/16, 57/58 and 141/142), which may indicate an earlier state.