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Otaheite: a poem. London: printed for the author, 1774.
Details
[COATES, Charles (bap. 1746-1813), attributed to on title, or – William HAYLEY (1745-1820)]
Otaheite: a poem. London: printed for the author, 1774.
Extremely rare poetic reaction to Cook's First Voyage, viewing Tahiti as an earthly paradise:
What Worlds discover'd, and what Oceans known:
Now, what enchanting Fair, with wanton Smiles,
Shone forth the Venus of the Southern Isles
The attribution to Coates is given in contemporary manuscript on the title, but the Wrenn Library catalogue at the Harry Ransom Center, Austin TX, attributes the work to the poet and biographer William Hayley, as does the Mitchell Collection. ESTC traces 12 copies only: 5 copies in England, 4 in the US and 3 in New Zealand; in addition the State Library of New South Wales has two copies in the Mitchell Collection and two copies in the Dixson Collection, and the National Library of Australia, Canberra, also possess two copies. We can only trace one auction record (this copy) in the past 50 years (RBH/ABPC). Hocken p.13; Holmes 10. ESTC T43493.
Quarto (258 x 205mm). 16pp. (Short marginal closed tear at gutter of title repaired on verso, occasional light spotting). Modern blue quarter morocco. Provenance: J. Hocker (contemporary manuscript ink ownership inscription on title) – sold at Peter Arnold, Melbourne, 21-22 June 2005, lot 68.
Otaheite: a poem. London: printed for the author, 1774.
Extremely rare poetic reaction to Cook's First Voyage, viewing Tahiti as an earthly paradise:
What Worlds discover'd, and what Oceans known:
Now, what enchanting Fair, with wanton Smiles,
Shone forth the Venus of the Southern Isles
The attribution to Coates is given in contemporary manuscript on the title, but the Wrenn Library catalogue at the Harry Ransom Center, Austin TX, attributes the work to the poet and biographer William Hayley, as does the Mitchell Collection. ESTC traces 12 copies only: 5 copies in England, 4 in the US and 3 in New Zealand; in addition the State Library of New South Wales has two copies in the Mitchell Collection and two copies in the Dixson Collection, and the National Library of Australia, Canberra, also possess two copies. We can only trace one auction record (this copy) in the past 50 years (RBH/ABPC). Hocken p.13; Holmes 10. ESTC T43493.
Quarto (258 x 205mm). 16pp. (Short marginal closed tear at gutter of title repaired on verso, occasional light spotting). Modern blue quarter morocco. Provenance: J. Hocker (contemporary manuscript ink ownership inscription on title) – sold at Peter Arnold, Melbourne, 21-22 June 2005, lot 68.
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