The scribleriad: an heroic poem. In six books

London: Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall-mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Pater-noster-row, 1751. Six parts in one volume. 4to: xvi,31,[1]; 31,[1]; 31,[1]; 32; 32; 27,[9]pp, each book with separate title page, frontispiece, and pagination, the seven full-page plates engraved by Boitard after drawings by Boitard & J. Wall, the general title-page vignette engraved by Mosley after Gravelot, with wood-engraved ornaments. Period half calf (rebacked) over marbled boards (scuffed), spine divided into compartments by raised bands, red morocco letter-piece gilt. Variant text,with lines 168 and 169 omitted on p. 17 of Book IV but footnote to line 169 printed; p. 32 of Book V with tail-piece rather than note (stating that purchasers of the imperfect Book IV could obtain of the correctly printed pp. 17-18 from their bookseller. A Fine wide-margined copy in an early binding, with superb impressions of the plates and virtually pristine pages. NCBEL II 645. Lowndes 355. Cambridge's major work, a mock-epic poem, whose hero is Martinus Scriblerus, the brilliant creation of the Tory wits Alexander Pope, John Arbuthnot, and Jonathan Swift, founding members of the Scriblerus Club, an association of London authors. Working collaboratively, the group imagined the persona of Scriblerus, through whose writings they accomplished their satirical aims. Cambridge's poem, "intended to expose false taste and false science, replete with happy parodies of distinguished passages in the classics, particularly Virgil," is preceded by a dissertation on the mock epic, in which he avows Cervantes as his master. (Lowndes) "The versification is still elegant and finished, but the interest of the satire has evaporated." (DNB) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to that association's codes of ethics.).