Shelley, Percy Bysshe

8vo (193 x 118mm.), FIRST EDITION, without half-title as issued, with the dedication leaf ("To Harriet*****"), Shelley's imprint on title page and the final leaf intact, brown morocco gilt by Riviere & Son, covers with triple fillet borders, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, turn-ins, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, collector's cloth clamshell box

Ashley 5:57; Forman Shelley 21; Granniss 15; Hayward 225; Wise Shelley pp.39-40

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."

THE RARE TRUE FIRST EDITION OF THE AUTHOR'S EXPLOSIVE EARLY POEM, IN UNMUTILATED STATE.

Queen Mab, easily the most widely read of Shelley's poems for many years, and an inspiration to the Chartists and others, was privately printed and given to just a few of the author's friends. In most cases -- to avoid possible prosecution owing to the content -- Shelley removed the title and imprint from the last leaf. This applied even to the author's own copy (the Shelley-Brooks-Wade-Forman copy, Granniss 16) and the copy he presented to Leigh Hunt (Grannis 17). Out of around 250 copies less than twenty are thought to have survived with the original preliminary leaves. Furthermore Shelley also removed most of the dedication leaves prior to distribution, a reflection of the great crisis of his life, his separation from his wife Harriet, which was causing him immense pain. The present copy is intact with both imprints and the dedication leaf. "...Every reflecting mind must acknowledge that there is no proof of the existence of a Deity. God is an hypothesis, and, as such, stands in need of proof".