Autograph Poetry in the English Language : Facsimiles of Original Manuscripts from the Fourteenth to the Twentieth Century

London: Cassell & Company, Ltd.. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1973. Limited/Numbered Edition. Hardcover. Lacks the slipcase. Volume I: Very short closed tear adjacent to the head of the dust jacket.; This 2-volume set presents 197 full-page plates showing poetry in manuscript by 146 English authors from the 14th to 20th centuries. Manuscript examples from Butler, Dryden, Keats, Milton, Swift, Thomas, Yeats, and 139 others. The manuscript plates are printed on the recto of pages and each facing page includes a detailed explanation of the poem and poet, with a transcript of the manuscript poem. Viewed chronologically, the varied styles of printing and cursive describe the evolution of English handwriting over 6 Centuries. These is set 1,355 of a limited edition of 1,500. The 1st English edition. Compiled and Edited by P. J. Croft with his Acknowledgements, Introduction, Notes on the Transcripts, Table of Manuscript Locations. Commentary and Transcripts. Croft was a long-time manuscript specialist for Sotheby's UK. Pagination; Volume I: xxii,[3],1-93,[1]. Volume II: vii,94-198,[2]. The volumes are indexed by author. In quarter green cloth with heavy, laid, speckled paper over boards. Framed titles in gilt to spine. The pastedowns and endpapers are the same paper. Brown, mould made, finely variegated dust jackets with brown and green titles to front and framed green titles to spines. Mylar jackets added to both volumes. These 2 volumes are large, heavy, and will require additional shipping fees. Both volumes are clean, sharp-cornered, and absolutely Fine condition.; Photographs; Folio 13" - 23" tall; 198 pages .