James Montgomery — Greenland and Other Poems

London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1819. First edition. Leather. The first edition of an enchanting anthology containing a titular poem on the Moravian Church in Greenland, celebrated for its imagery. The first edition of Greenland and Other Poems, a charming anthology filled with history and religion, written by the Scottish poet James Montgomery. Rebacked with a later calf spine, and contemporary calf boards. Contains contemporary end papers, and bound without the half-title when compared against a copy held by the Hathi Trust. Montgomery's titular poem of five cantos, celebrated today for its imagery, explores the history of Greenland and particularly the arrival and eighteenth century revival of the ancient Moravian church there. The old Protestant domination, emphasising New Birth and humanitarianism, Montgomery's education by the Church he attributes to his poetry, including those advocation for abolition and against the exploitation of child labour. Rebacked with a later calf spine, and contemporary calf boards. Contains contemporary end papers, and bound without the half-title when compared against a copy held by the Hathi Trust. Externally, mostly smart, with minimal wear to later calf spine. The odd scratch to contemporary boards and cracked ageing to edges. Knocks to the extremities. The odd spot to end papers, with offsetting to edges. A couple of contemporary ink signatures and inscriptions to front end papers. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and mostly clean, with spotting to first couple and final leaves. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .