The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore, Including His Melodies, Ballads, Etc. Complete in One Volume

E.C. Markley and Son, 1866-01-01. Hardcover. Good. No date, but circa 1866 E.C. Markley and Son (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 6 x 9 1/8 inches tall x 1 1/2 inches thick hardbound, no dust jacket (as issued), marbled paper-covered boards over reddish-brown leather spine and tips, five raised bands and gilt floral design and lettering to spine, upper page edges gilt, marbled endpapers, engraved frontispiece portrait with tissue guard, 431 pp. plus one page of publisher's ads. A reprint of the 1845 first edition by predecessor publisher Crissy & Markley. Minor to moderate rubbing and edgewear to covers, especially tips. Minor marginal foxing to frontispiece portrait. Despite the intact tissue guard, a bit of offsetting 'ghost' from portrait to title page, which has a slight bit of soiling or foxing. Three small chips to fore page edges, causing creasing to the fore edges of about 60 pages in the first half of the book. Otherwise, apart from normal age toning throughout, a nice copy of this relatively early imprint of Moore's collected poetry. Note that this is a heavy and oversized book, so additional postage will be required for international or priority orders. ~SP11~ Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of 'The Minstrel Boy' and 'The Last Rose of Summer.' Moore is often considered Ireland's National Bard and is often said to be to Ireland what Robert Burns is to Scotland. In the early years of his career, Moore's work was largely generic and had he died at this point he would likely not have been considered an Irish poet. From 1806 to 1807 Moore dramatically changed his style of writing and focus. Following a request by the publishers James and William Power, he wrote lyrics to a series of Irish tunes in the manner of Haydn's settings of British folksongs, with Sir John Andrew Stevenson as arranger of the music. They were originally published in ten volumes and a supplement between 1808 and 1834, the musical arrangements of the last volumes after Stevenson's death (1833) being done by Henry Bishop. Moore became best known for these Irish Melodies, which were enormously popular, containing songs such as 'The Minstrel Boy,' 'The Last Rose of Summer,' 'Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms' and 'Oft in the Stilly Night.