Details
LEAR, Edward (1812-1888) -- John S. HARFORD. The Life of Michael Angelo Buonarroti, with translations of many of his poems and letters, London: Longman, Brown, Green [etc.], 1857.
2 volumes, 8°, half-titles, engraved portrait frontispieces, 18 engraved or lithographic plates, 2 folding, 24-page publisher's catalogue dated "October 1857" bound in at end of vol. I (scattered light spotting and occasional browning or offsetting, light dampstaining at end of vol. II, a few plates detatched), uncut in original publisher's gilt and blind-stamped cloth (hinges cracked, spines with small tears and marks). Provenance: PRESENTATION COPY from the author to Edward Lear, with Lear's inscription in volume I recording the gift: "Edward Lear. Dec. 1857. (from J. B.[sic] Harford.)" and with a similar inscription by Lear on title of volume II.
FIRST EDITION. Lear had possibly met John S[candrett] Harford (1785-1866), in Italy in 1846, when Harford was gathering materials for his work. In December 1857, when he received the book from Harford, he was resident in Corfu, and his mistranscription of the author's initials suggest that the gift may have been sent with a covering letter, and Lear, who only knew Harford as an aquaintance, probably mistook the initial 'S' for a 'B'. (2)
2 volumes, 8°, half-titles, engraved portrait frontispieces, 18 engraved or lithographic plates, 2 folding, 24-page publisher's catalogue dated "October 1857" bound in at end of vol. I (scattered light spotting and occasional browning or offsetting, light dampstaining at end of vol. II, a few plates detatched), uncut in original publisher's gilt and blind-stamped cloth (hinges cracked, spines with small tears and marks). Provenance: PRESENTATION COPY from the author to Edward Lear, with Lear's inscription in volume I recording the gift: "Edward Lear. Dec. 1857. (from J. B.[sic] Harford.)" and with a similar inscription by Lear on title of volume II.
FIRST EDITION. Lear had possibly met John S[candrett] Harford (1785-1866), in Italy in 1846, when Harford was gathering materials for his work. In December 1857, when he received the book from Harford, he was resident in Corfu, and his mistranscription of the author's initials suggest that the gift may have been sent with a covering letter, and Lear, who only knew Harford as an aquaintance, probably mistook the initial 'S' for a 'B'. (2)
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