CLEVELAND’S POEMS, FINELY BOUND

CLEVELAND, John. Clievelandi Vindiciae; or, Cleveland’s Genuine Poems, Orations, Epistles, &c. London: Printed for Obadiah Blagrave, 1677. Small octavo, early 20th-century full dark green morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $850.

First edition of this collection of Cleveland’s works, elegantly bound.

Cleveland “had the honor of being the first poetical champion of the royal cause [during the English Civil War], and suffered imprisonment when the opposition prevailed” (Allibone I:394). Although Wing identifies this book as “another issue” (C4670), the Grolier Club notes that this edition “was issued with at least three distinct title-pages” and assigns no priority to any variant (Wither to Prior, 181). The engraved frontispiece has been attributed to Robert White, “the most esteemed and industrious portrait engraver of his time” (DNB). ibliotheca Anglo-Poetica 161. Cox I:156. Lowndes, 481.

Scattered light foxing, several tears with loss repaired. Handsome binding fine. A very good copy.