Thomas Gray — Poems by Mr Gray a New Edition

London, J Dodsley, 1768. Leather. A collected edition of Thomas Gray's poetry. This is the 'New Edition' as stated to title page, though published the same year as the first. With the scarce half title and contents leaf. With an ex-libris bookplate of Franz Pollack Von Parnau of Vienna, Austria. With the bookplate of John Proby, 1st Earl of Carysfort to the front pastedown. The armorial bookplate has the Carysfort/Proby shield with the heraldic crown of an Earl at the top. The motto 'Quis Separabit' and the Date 1783 is to the outer of the shield. This is the motto for the order of St Patrick, which is also illustrated to the bookplate. Proby was awarded with the Order of St Patrick in 1784. The Order of St Patrick is an order of chivalry first issued in 1783 by George III. John Proby was a British judge, diplomat and Whig politican. He was the second Baron Carysfort, succeeding his father, before becoming Earl of Carysfort. He resided at Glenart Castle, County Wicklow. From the antiquarian library of Christopher Rowe. Christopher Rowe was a schoolmaster in Norwich and then in Bristol. Throughout his career he inspired many to love literature, history and music. He was a specialist on 17th century printer and bookseller, Humphres Moseley and began his, unfortunately unfinished, PhD dissertation on him. This collection has many of Gray's popular poems such as 'Ode on the Spring', 'Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat' and 'The Progress of Poesy&apos. The final poem of this work is arguably Gray's best known work 'Elegy written in a Country Church-Yard. In full calf binding with gilt stamping to spine. Externally, generally smart with cracks to joints, heavier to the front joint. Loss to the head and tail of spine. Small loss to raised bands also. Front hinge is slightly strained but firm. Prior owner's bookplate to front pastedown and a library bookplate to recto of front endpaper. Another prior owner's bookplate to verso of front endpaper, Christopher Rowe. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are slightly age toned to edges with instances of light spots. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .