- 615
Overbury, Sir Thomas
Description
- Overbury, Sir Thomas
- A Wife. Now the Widdow of sir Tho. Overburye. Being a most exquisite and singular Poem of the choice of a wife. Whereunto are added many witty Characteres, and conceited Newes, written by himselfe and other learned Gentlemen his friends... The third impression; with addition of Sundry other new Characters. London: Printed by Edward Griffin for Lawrence Lisle, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the Tigers head. 1614
- Ink, paper and cow
Catalogue Note
Overbury wrote this poem when his friend Robert Carr, a favorite of King James I's, began an affair with Frances Howard, Countess of Essex. While the poem circulated in court, the Howard faction ignored its intended subject and suggest to the King that it was instead an attack against the Queen. Overbury was sent to the Tower in June 1613 and murdered in September. During the trial in 1616, Robert Carr and his newly wife Frances were found guilty with four accomplices.
A Wife was first published in 1614, and ran through five editions within a year. The scandal connected with the murder of the author and the implication of the King's involvement in the plot greatly aided its success.
The "third impression" [edition] is dated the same year as the unobtainable first and second editions. This copy originally formed part of a volume which contained 5 others works including Speed's The Counter Scuffle (lot 757).
[With:] 14 later editions of the same, including three from 1616.
London: 1616. 8vo. 7th edition. Contemporary vellum. Provenance: Phil Lloyd; Fairfax of Cameron. (STC 18909; ESTC S1598) — London: 1616. 8vo. The 8th Impression. Modern red morocco "Bound for Bernard Quaritch, Ltd by Sangorski & Sutcliffe". Corners of 8 first and 6 last leaves repaired (with manuscript restorations on last leaf). (STC 18910; ESTC S120821) — London: 1616. 8vo. The 9th impression augmented. Modern binding. Trimmed short. Provenance: C.A.O. FOX. (STC 18911; ESTC S113539) — London: 1618. 8vo. The 10th impression augmented. Contemporary calf. Rebacked. Rust hole at ¶6 and M7. (STC 18912; ESTC S113541) — London: 1622. 8vo. The 11th Impression. Contemporary vellum. (STC 18913; ESTC S113543). Provenance: Richard Jones — Dublin: [A. Johnson for] the Company of Stationers, 1626. 8vo. The 12th Impression. 19th-century straight-grained red morocco. (STC 18914; ESTC S100612). Provenance: Earl of Leitrim — London: I. J[aggard] for Robert Swayne, 1627. 8vo. The 12th [sic] impression. Contemporary calf. Rebacked. (STC 18915; ESTC S113544) — London: Robert Allot, 1628. 8vo. The 13th [sic] Impression. 18th-century half calf. Title and last page dust-soiled and short, several leaves shaved short. (STC 18916; ESTC S113546). Provenance: Lewis Stephens —London: Robert Allot, 1630. 8vo. The 14th [sic] Impression. Old vellum (probably a remboitage). Wormhole. (STC 18917; ESTC S113548) —London: R.B. for Robert Allot, 1632. 8vo. The 15th [sic] Impression. Old vellum. Title repaired and first quire reattached. First endpaper renewed. (STC 18918; ESTC S113549). Provenance: William Cecil — London: John Haviland, for A. Crooke, 1638. 8vo. The 16th [sic] Impression. Portrait supplied. Rust hole. Chapter "Newes from the verie Countries" (R7-8) by John Donne (with R8 restored in margin). Modern calf with old spine. (STC 18919; ESTC S113550) — 3 others copies: 1655, 1664 and 1709.
Great collection of almost all the early editions of Overbury's political and poetical pamphlet. The only edition traced in the auction records was George Thorn-Drury's copy of the 1614 fifth impression sold at Sotheby's London in 1931.