Pope, Alexander.

4to, first edition, engraved title page with the laden-ass vignette, half-titles, uncut in the original blue wrappers, untrimmed, collector's cloth case and folding box by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, red morocco lettering piece in gilt

Purchased from Bernard Quaritch Ltd. in May 1978 for the Garden Ltd., Garden book-label; The Collection of the Garden Ltd. Magnificent Books and Manuscripts, sale at Sotheby's New York, 9/10 November 1989, lot 140

Griffith 211;  Rothschild 1597

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

a magnificent copy of the second version of pope's landmark literary satire and most ambitious poem, preserved uncut in the original wrappers.

The Dunciad appeared in four different versions between 1728 and 1743. The first version was a three-book poem whose principal action is the elevation to the throne of Dulness of the writer and critic Lewis Theobald ("Tibbald") in succession to Settle. The present copy is the second, expanded version, with the filling-in of the Dunces' names, the mock-critical apparatus of "The Publisher's Advertisement",  "A Letter to the Publisher", "The Prolegomena of Martinus Scriblerus" (including "Testimonies of Authors concerning our Poet and his Works" and "A Dissertation of the Poem"), "Notes Variorum", seven appendices and two indexes. In 1742 Pope went on to publish the New Dunciad, a continuation of the poem, and in the following year an overhauled Dunciad in Four Books, in which Tibbald is replaced by Colley Cibber.