![POPE, Alexander, William BROOME (1689-1745), and Elijah FENTON (1683-1730), translators. -- HOMER. The Iliad. London: W. Bowyer for Bernard Lintot, 1715-1720. -- The Odyssey. London: [John Watts] for Bernard Lintot, 1725-1726.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/NYR/2015_NYR_12435_0119_000(pope_alexander_william_broome_and_elijah_fenton_translators_--_homer_t115257).jpg?w=1)
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POPE, Alexander, William BROOME (1689-1745), and Elijah FENTON (1683-1730), translators. -- HOMER. The Iliad. London: W. Bowyer for Bernard Lintot, 1715-1720. -- The Odyssey. London: [John Watts] for Bernard Lintot, 1725-1726.
Together 11 volumes, 4° (282 x 220 mm). Both works with engraved frontispiece by G. Vertue after C. Jervas, Iliad with folding engraved map (vol. 2) and engraved plate (vol. 5), engraved vignettes, EXTRA ILLUSTRATED by the addition of 66 mounted engraved plates, most unsigned, a few by or after A. Dipenbeck, D. Loggan, P. Williams, A. Hertock, N. Vleughels, and S. Gribelin. (Iliad lacks half-title in vol. 1 and privilege leaf in vol. 2, 6A1 in vol. 3 with tear in gutter crossing a few letters and early repair, Odyssey lacks privilege leaf in vol. 5, some scant marginal spotting or staining.) Uniformly bound in contemporary red turkey gilt, black calf onlay corner-pieces, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands and alternating tan and green calf lettering-pieces gilt, board edges and turn-ins gilt, edges gilt (some light scuffing and wear, some joints skillfully repaired). Provenance: Francis Love Beckford (armorial bookplate).
SUBSCRIBERS’ QUARTO EDITION, THICK PAPER ISSUE OF THE 6-VOLUME ILIAD. Pope’s translation was issued in quarto, folio, and large folio formats. Whereas the Iliad was translated by Pope alone and published in six annual volumes, the Odyssey was in five, the first three published in April 1725 and last two in June 1726. The assistance of Broome who contributed eight of the twenty-four books and the entire prose commentary, and Fenton who contributed four books, allowed for quicker completion. However, the decision to keep this collaboration a secret became a literary scandal. Only the quarto edition reserved for subscribers included the engraved head-pieces, tail-pieces, and vignettes. Although the designer remains unidentified, Pope is known to have personally supervised the pictorial illustrations to the Iliad (660 copies published in quarto); William Kent designed the fifty vignettes to the Odyssey which were non-pictorial and more formal. The proceeds from the subscribers’ edition of both works went to Pope, while Lintot took the profits from the folio editions. Volume I of the folio Iliad contains “two leaves of five plates,” not called for in the quarto edition. Griffith calls for gathering Nn as the last gathering in the Iliad volume 1, which is not present here; in its place is a gathering signed Xx, incorrectly paginated (pp. 375-381, rather than pp. 311-317) but with catchwords and headlines which correspond with the previous gathering. The quarto Iliad was advertised in 1720 as being available on “superfine Dutch Royal” for ten guineas or on “fine Holland Royal” for eight guineas; this copy is the thick paper issue on Dutch Royal. The extra illustrations are uncommon. Foxon, Pope 51-101; Griffith 40, 48, 76, 94, 113, 117 (Iliad); 151, 155, 159, 166, 170 (Odyssey); Rothschild 1588-89 (Odyssey).
Together 11 volumes, 4° (282 x 220 mm). Both works with engraved frontispiece by G. Vertue after C. Jervas, Iliad with folding engraved map (vol. 2) and engraved plate (vol. 5), engraved vignettes, EXTRA ILLUSTRATED by the addition of 66 mounted engraved plates, most unsigned, a few by or after A. Dipenbeck, D. Loggan, P. Williams, A. Hertock, N. Vleughels, and S. Gribelin. (Iliad lacks half-title in vol. 1 and privilege leaf in vol. 2, 6A1 in vol. 3 with tear in gutter crossing a few letters and early repair, Odyssey lacks privilege leaf in vol. 5, some scant marginal spotting or staining.) Uniformly bound in contemporary red turkey gilt, black calf onlay corner-pieces, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands and alternating tan and green calf lettering-pieces gilt, board edges and turn-ins gilt, edges gilt (some light scuffing and wear, some joints skillfully repaired). Provenance: Francis Love Beckford (armorial bookplate).
SUBSCRIBERS’ QUARTO EDITION, THICK PAPER ISSUE OF THE 6-VOLUME ILIAD. Pope’s translation was issued in quarto, folio, and large folio formats. Whereas the Iliad was translated by Pope alone and published in six annual volumes, the Odyssey was in five, the first three published in April 1725 and last two in June 1726. The assistance of Broome who contributed eight of the twenty-four books and the entire prose commentary, and Fenton who contributed four books, allowed for quicker completion. However, the decision to keep this collaboration a secret became a literary scandal. Only the quarto edition reserved for subscribers included the engraved head-pieces, tail-pieces, and vignettes. Although the designer remains unidentified, Pope is known to have personally supervised the pictorial illustrations to the Iliad (660 copies published in quarto); William Kent designed the fifty vignettes to the Odyssey which were non-pictorial and more formal. The proceeds from the subscribers’ edition of both works went to Pope, while Lintot took the profits from the folio editions. Volume I of the folio Iliad contains “two leaves of five plates,” not called for in the quarto edition. Griffith calls for gathering Nn as the last gathering in the Iliad volume 1, which is not present here; in its place is a gathering signed Xx, incorrectly paginated (pp. 375-381, rather than pp. 311-317) but with catchwords and headlines which correspond with the previous gathering. The quarto Iliad was advertised in 1720 as being available on “superfine Dutch Royal” for ten guineas or on “fine Holland Royal” for eight guineas; this copy is the thick paper issue on Dutch Royal. The extra illustrations are uncommon. Foxon, Pope 51-101; Griffith 40, 48, 76, 94, 113, 117 (Iliad); 151, 155, 159, 166, 170 (Odyssey); Rothschild 1588-89 (Odyssey).