Donne, John

Poems, by J. D. With Elegies ont he Authors Death. London: Printed by M[iles] F[lesher] for John Marriot, 1633



4to (7 x 5 in.; 178 x 127 mm).  Without the two extra leaves 2A1 and 2A2 present in some copies ("The Printer to the Understanders, etc."), lacks terminal blank leaf Fff4, worming throughout along inner margin, occasionally touching a letter, dampstaining throughout,  hole on Mm3 (possibly a paper flaw) costing a few words in lines 19–21, short tear to top margin of K4. Contemporary calf, frame ruled in blind with blind fleuron cornerpieces, edges stained red; rebacked with most of original spine laid down, skillful repairs to lower outside corners of both covers. Quarter brown morocco folding case.

Grolier/Wither to Prior 286; Hayward 54; Keynes Donne 78; Pforzheimer 296; STC 7045

First edition of the author's collected poems.  Little written by Donne appeared in print in his lifetime (1573–1631), but the widespread contemporary demand for his writings is witnessed by the hundreds of copies that circulated in manuscript. The first collection of his poems—probably based on one or more manuscripts by someone in his inner circle—appeared after his death. Further editions ensued, with additions and attributions derived from other sources.

"Sometimes the two leaves of The Printer etc. have been omitted altogether [as in the present copy]. It is evident that they were an afterthought and were inserted only in a portion of the edition, so that their absence is not a 'defect'" (Keynes).