The Pleasures of Memory

T H E

P L E A S U R E S

OF

M E M O R Y

WITH OTHER

P O E M S

BY S A M U E L R O G E R S, ESQ.

L O N D O N :

T. CADELL AND W. DAVIES

════

1799.

DESCRIPTION

(iv) + 188 + (iv)

Book measures 165mm x 100mm approximately.

Fully bound in contemporary tan full polished mottled calf. Spine with gilt-ruled bands with interesting gilt motifs and decoration to each gilt-boxed compartment, and maroon title label. Gilt fillet border to both boards. Marbled paste-downs and end-papers. All page edges marbled. A number of small engravings throughout.

CONDITION

The binding is holding firm and quite tight, although with some cracking to hinges on lower rear and upper front boards. Spine retains a nice rich lustre with no loss of gilt. Both boards exhibit some wear, scuffs and marks generally, with a small loss of leather to lower corner of rear board, and to lower front board edge (minor). Some general light surface scratches, and bumping to lower board corners. Internally the pages are generally quite clean throughout albeit for a few small occasional spots and some slight grubbiness to illustrated pages and end-papers. Very small neat previous owner signature to top of front end-paper.

Overall, a neat and sound little volume of poems.

INTERESTING

Samuel Rogers (1763 to 1855) was an English poet, during his lifetime one of the most celebrated, although his fame has long since been eclipsed by his Romantic colleagues and friends Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron. He made his money as a banker and was also a discriminating art collector.

Rogers held various honorary positions: he was one of the trustees of the National Gallery; and he served on a commission to inquire into the management of the British Museum, and on another for the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in November 1796.

In 1850, on Wordsworth's death, Rogers was asked to succeed him as poet laureate, but declined the honour on account of his age. For the last five years of his life he was confined to his chair. He died in London at 92, a remarkable age for the time, and is buried in the family tomb in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Haringey.