Miscellaneous Poems

Manchester: J. Harrop, 1773. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 7" by 4.5". Not Stated. The first collected edition of the poetry of John Byrom, a noted poet and inventor of shorthand. The first collected edition.Complete in two volumes.Half-title is present to each volume. Illustrated with one engraved head-piece to Volume I, for the poem 'A Pastoral', and one engraved head-piece to Volume II, for the poem 'An Epistle to a Gentleman of the Temple'.Errata to the verso of the half-titles.The collected poetical works of John Byrom.Byrom's poetical style is known for its eccentricities, bursts in humour, have philosophical undertones.These two volumes included verses on being held by highwaymen, on lottery tickets, on Clergymen preaching Politics, on fables and more.Byrom is better known today for his revolutionary invention of shorthand. In a literary sense, he is best remembered for his Christmas hymn 'Christians, awake, salute the happy morn', which he apparently wrote as a gift for his daughter. He also coined the phrase 'Tweedledum and Tweedledee', which discussing a dispute about the merits of the composers Handel and Bononcini. Bookplate of Edward Francis Witts to the front paste downs.Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto of the free front endpaper of Volume I, offering a concise biography of Byrom.Collated, complete. In a full tree calf binding. Externally, generally smart. Light bumping to the extremities. Minor rubbing to the spine and extremities, lighter rubbing to the boards. Some loss to the head and tail of the spines. A few minor marks to the boards. Small crack to the head of the front joint of Volume I, and to the head of the rear joint of Volume II. Hinges are starting but firm. Scattered spotting to the endpapers. Bookplate to the front paste downs. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto of the front free endpaper of Volume I. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very lightly age-toned and clean. Prior owner's ink inscription to the title pages. Very Good