Joanna Baillie — Metrical Legends of Exalted Characters

London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1821 . First edition. Leather. A wonderful example of the scarce first edition of Joanna Baillie's narrative poems about the lives of notable historical figures, together with several shorter ballads inspired by legend and folklore. A scarce first edition. A work by Joanna Baillie, a Scottish poet and dramatist, known for such works as Plays on the Passions, and Fugitive Verses. This volume provides a collection of stories in verse of historical legends, such as William Wallace, Christopher Colombus, Lady Griseld Baillie, Lord John of the East, and more.  Rebacked, retaining original endpapers. Baillie was critically acclaimed in her lifetime, and was associated with contemporary writers such as Anna Barbauld, Lucy Aikin, and Walter Scott.  Rebacked, in a quarter calf binding with marbled paper covered boards. Retaining original endpapers. Small losses of paper to fore edges of boards. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright, with the odd spot. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed .