Donne, John.

4to (188 x 132 mm.), first edition of the author's collected poems, three woodcut initial capitals, earlier issue with signature Nn1 recto (p.273) in uncorrected state with no running headline and 35 lines of text, without the inserted leaves ^{2A2 found in some copies ("The Printer to the Understanders" and "Hexastichon Bibliopolae"), without initial and final blanks, modern antique-style blind-stamped calf, slight tear to outer margin of C2 (not affecting text), some slight browning and spotting, first gathering partially loose}

Thomas Stanton, early ownership signature on B1 recto; Thomas Jolley, F.S.A., ownership signature on front endpaper dated 1810, armorial bookplate; The Hon. Robert Hesketh, armorial bookplate

Thomas Jolley F.S.A. (d.1854) acquired a significant library of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century literature, including David Garrick's Shakespeare First Folio, which he bought at the ten-day sale of Garrick's library in 1823. This copy (West W34) is now in the Queen's College, Oxford. Jolley's library was sold in a series of sales at Sotheby's between 1843 and 1853.

Pforzheimer 296; Keynes Donne 78; STC 7045

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
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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."

First edition of arguably the finest poetical collection of the seventeenth century.

Although Donne's works had circulated widely in scribal form, this first printed edition of his poems was crucial in bringing Donne's poems to a wider readership. Henry King, poet and Bishop of Chichester, is believed to have assisted John Mariot in bringing the book into print, and he also supplied one of the elegies. The poet's son, John Donne Jr, was not involved in the publication and in 1637 he successfully petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury for control of the poems, claiming that this edition had appeared "without anie leave or autoritie".