![[GRAY, Thomas (1716-1771).] An Elegy Wrote in a Country Church Yard. London: for R. Dodsley, and sold by M. Cooper, 1751.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2021/NYR/2021_NYR_19151_0063_000(gray_thomas_an_elegy_wrote_in_a_country_church_yard_london_for_r_dodsl104319).jpg?w=1)
[GRAY, Thomas (1716-1771).] An Elegy Wrote in a Country Church Yard. London: for R. Dodsley, and sold by M. Cooper, 1751.
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[GRAY, Thomas (1716-1771).] An Elegy Wrote in a Country Church Yard. London: for R. Dodsley, and sold by M. Cooper, 1751.
First edition, first issue, of one of the best loved poems in English, freshly preserved in a contemporary binding alongside ten other pamphlets. Gray's great meditative poem was begun in 1742 but not finished until 1750, at which point it started to be circulated freely in manuscript. However, the threat of piracy led to it being rushed into print in no more than six days. It was published at sixpence on 15 February 1751, one day before its appearance in The Magazine of Magazines. There were five authorized editions in the same year. Gray’s striking poem inspired many imitators and homages from not only his fellow poets, but visual artists including William Blake, Owen Jones, and John Constable. There is no elegy that is more remembered, and no eighteenth century poem that has received more echoes in subsequent literature. This sammelband preserves it in the intellectual context of its time, alongside not only other poetry but an important work on cryptography by John Davys and a scandalous pamphlet by the historian Catharine Macaulay. Ashley II, p. 159; Grolier English 49; Hayward 173; Northup 492; Rothschild 1056; Stokes p. 27; Tinker 1165.
The other works bound in are: [MACAULAY, Catharine (1731-1791).] A Remarkable Moving Letter! London: Robert Faulder, 1779; [POWYS, Thomas Philip.] The tablet of Cebes: or, a picture of human life. Oxford: for J. Fletcher, 1759; DAVYS, John. An Essay on the Art of Decyphering. London: for L. Gilliver and J. Clarke, 1737; GRAY, Thomas. Odes by Mr Gray. London: at Strawberry-Hill for R. and J. Dodsley, 1757; CHURCHILL, Charles. The Rosciad. Fourth edition. London: for the author, sold by W. Fleney, 1741; [COOPER, John Gilbert.] The Power of Harmony: a Poem in Two Books. London: for R. Dodsley, 1745; [GIFFORD, Richard.] Contemplation. London: for R. Dodsley, 1753; SCOTT, Thomas, editor. The Table of Cebes, or, the Picture of Human Life. London: for R. and J. Dodsley, 1754; [MORGAN, McNamara.] The Piscopade: A Panegyri-Satiri-Serio-Comical Poem by Porcupinus Pelagius. London: For W. Owen, 1748; [BOWEN, Thomas.] An Historical Account of the Origin, Progress, and Present State of Bethlem Hospital, founded by Henry the Eighth, for the Cure of Lunatics. London: 1783.
Quarto (250 x 197mm). Title between woodcut rules with emblems of death, the upper rule repeated at head of poem. (The "F" of 'Finis' is, as usual, punched through but present, title a bit dustsoiled). Bound fifth with 10 other contemporary pamphlets, mostly without half-titles, in 18th-century half calf over marbled boards (rebacked and recornered). Provenance: manuscript contents on front pastedown – "Lady Rooke" (signature on front pastedown).
First edition, first issue, of one of the best loved poems in English, freshly preserved in a contemporary binding alongside ten other pamphlets. Gray's great meditative poem was begun in 1742 but not finished until 1750, at which point it started to be circulated freely in manuscript. However, the threat of piracy led to it being rushed into print in no more than six days. It was published at sixpence on 15 February 1751, one day before its appearance in The Magazine of Magazines. There were five authorized editions in the same year. Gray’s striking poem inspired many imitators and homages from not only his fellow poets, but visual artists including William Blake, Owen Jones, and John Constable. There is no elegy that is more remembered, and no eighteenth century poem that has received more echoes in subsequent literature. This sammelband preserves it in the intellectual context of its time, alongside not only other poetry but an important work on cryptography by John Davys and a scandalous pamphlet by the historian Catharine Macaulay. Ashley II, p. 159; Grolier English 49; Hayward 173; Northup 492; Rothschild 1056; Stokes p. 27; Tinker 1165.
The other works bound in are: [MACAULAY, Catharine (1731-1791).] A Remarkable Moving Letter! London: Robert Faulder, 1779; [POWYS, Thomas Philip.] The tablet of Cebes: or, a picture of human life. Oxford: for J. Fletcher, 1759; DAVYS, John. An Essay on the Art of Decyphering. London: for L. Gilliver and J. Clarke, 1737; GRAY, Thomas. Odes by Mr Gray. London: at Strawberry-Hill for R. and J. Dodsley, 1757; CHURCHILL, Charles. The Rosciad. Fourth edition. London: for the author, sold by W. Fleney, 1741; [COOPER, John Gilbert.] The Power of Harmony: a Poem in Two Books. London: for R. Dodsley, 1745; [GIFFORD, Richard.] Contemplation. London: for R. Dodsley, 1753; SCOTT, Thomas, editor. The Table of Cebes, or, the Picture of Human Life. London: for R. and J. Dodsley, 1754; [MORGAN, McNamara.] The Piscopade: A Panegyri-Satiri-Serio-Comical Poem by Porcupinus Pelagius. London: For W. Owen, 1748; [BOWEN, Thomas.] An Historical Account of the Origin, Progress, and Present State of Bethlem Hospital, founded by Henry the Eighth, for the Cure of Lunatics. London: 1783.
Quarto (250 x 197mm). Title between woodcut rules with emblems of death, the upper rule repeated at head of poem. (The "F" of 'Finis' is, as usual, punched through but present, title a bit dustsoiled). Bound fifth with 10 other contemporary pamphlets, mostly without half-titles, in 18th-century half calf over marbled boards (rebacked and recornered). Provenance: manuscript contents on front pastedown – "Lady Rooke" (signature on front pastedown).
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Heather Weintraub
Specialist, Books, Manuscripts, & Archives