WALPOLE, H. CATALOGUE OF THE ROYAL AND NOBEL AUTHORS, 1806, PRESENTATION COPY GIVEN BY BYRON TO E PIGOT

8vo, 5 volumes, expanded and illustrated edition, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY LORD BYRON ON HALF-TITLE OF FIRST VOLUME TO HIS CONFIDANTE ELIZABETH PIGOT ("Eliza. Bridget. Pigot | June 3d. 1807 --G.G. Byron"), inscribed in pencil below by the recipient ("The above is Ld. Byron's own writing. | EBP"),  further inscriptions and signatures by Pigot in volumes 2, 4 and 5, 149 plates (including frontispieces in volumes 1 and 2, lacking the portrait of the Earl of Monmouth in volume III), contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, covers with roll-tool border, spines gilt in six compartments with bird and flower tools, olive morocco labels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, preserved in quarter red morocco boxes, bindings rubbed, labels chipped (5)

Elizabeth Bridget Pigot, inscription by Lord Byron in volume 1 (subscribed by Elizabeth Pigot: "The above is Ld Byron's own handwriting EBP"), and ownership inscriptions on front endpapers of volumes 4 and 5; Sotheby's, 20 July 1989, lot 73; George Cosmatos, the sale of his library at Sotheby's, Part I, 23 March 2005, lot 177 

Hazen 10

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."

A FINE PRESENTATION AND ASSOCIATION COPY. Elizabeth Pigot shared a particularly affectionate intimacy with Lord Byron. She was the sister of his good friend John Pigot, then a medical student at Edinburgh, and the Pigot household in Burgage Manor, Southwell, virtually became Byron's adopted home in his student days. He and Elizabeth often exchanged books and wrote verses to each other, and she acted as his confidante. She also helped with the publication of Byron's first book of poems, Fugitive Pieces. Walpole's Catalogue was first published in 1758. The present enlarged edition was issued in both quarto and octavo formats. Loosely inserted is a small watercolour bookmark (which could possibly be by Pigot herself) together with a note addressed to Mr Pigot, three pages of notes on the family of the earls of Carlisle, and a typed letter from Sotheby's addressed to C. Becher Pigot (probably a descendant of one of Elizabeth's brothers) about a book sale taking place on 2 May 1918.