Donne, John

4to (7 x 5 1/4 in.; 177 x 134 mm). With the two-leaf gathering [2]A containing "The Printer to the Understanders" and "Hexastichon Biblioplæ" by Marriot inserted after A2, 3 woodcut initials, with blanks A1 and Fff4; a few small wormholes or trails variously running at top and top fore-edges of B1 through Lll4 occasionally touching the rule of a running-head but never the running-head, page number, or text, top rule cropped on O1 and shaved on C2r, S3 with clean marginal tear into text, early signature inked through on title-page. Contemporary black morocco, covers with gilt double-rule frame, smooth spine with ten pairs of horizontal gilt rules and single blind ornament, board edges gilt, plain endpapers, gilt edges; a bit rubbed but absolutely unrestored. Blue cloth folding-case.

Frank Brewer Bemis (bookplate; presumably sold by his executors, through Rosenbach) — Harry Bacon Collamore (signature, 1944, on front free endpaper). acquisition: Seven Gables, ca. 1975

STC 7045; ESTC S121864; Grolier/Donne 81; Grolier/English 25; Grolier/Langland to Wither 71; Grolier/Wither to Prior 286; Hayward 54; Keynes, Donne 78; Pforzheimer 296

4to (7 x 5 1/4 in.; 177 x 134 mm). With the two-leaf gathering [2]A containing "The Printer to the Understanders" and "Hexastichon Biblioplæ" by Marriot inserted after A2, 3 woodcut initials, with blanks A1 and Fff4; a few small wormholes or trails variously running at top and top fore-edges of B1 through Lll4 occasionally touching the rule of a running-head but never the running-head, page number, or text, top rule cropped on O1 and shaved on C2r, S3 with clean marginal tear into text, early signature inked through on title-page. Contemporary black morocco, covers with gilt double-rule frame, smooth spine with ten pairs of horizontal gilt rules and single blind ornament, board edges gilt, plain endpapers, gilt edges; a bit rubbed but absolutely unrestored.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First edition, of the first collected edition of the greatest of all the metaphysical poets and the editio princeps for virtually all of Donne's poems. This edition was based on manuscripts derived from the author's archives and provided the best seventeenth-century text of Donne's poems, although six further editions would appear by 1669. First, uncancelled state of Nn1, with the recto set without running head and with thirty-five lines of text.

According to the catalogue of the Grolier Club's quartocentenary exhibition of John Donne, this is one of two copies known in contemporary morocco.