Thomas Gray — Poems and Letters

London, Printed at the Chiswick Press, 1879. Leather. A large paper, illustrated edition, of Thomas Gray's poems and letters. In a lovely full calf binding. With a comprehensive biography of Gray. With a frontispiece and three mounted plates of photographs. The three plates are of landscape and architectural views. Collated, complete. Being a collection of Gray's Odes, Songs, Extracts and letters. With his 'Ode on the Spring', 'Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, 'The Progress of Poetry' and his famed 'Elegy written in a Country Church-yard&apos. With an Eton prize presentation leaf to the front of the work, dated 1884. Thomas Gray as a famed classical scholar and professor at Pembroke College, Cambridge. His best known work is 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard' which was first published in 1751. Gray only had 13 poems published during his lifetime due to his self-critical nature. The letters to this work are between Gray and Walpole, Gray's mother, Mr West, Mr Wharton and his father. A lovely work, with several decorative head pieces and ornamental letters. In a full calf binding. Imperceptibly rebacked with the original spine laid down and boards preserved. Externally, very smart with several marks to boards. Rubbing to the head of rear board. Shelfwear to the spine has resulted in the gilt fading. Gift inscriptions to the recto of front endpaper, Francisco Harold Hoskier. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright with scattered spots to the first and last few pages in addition to the plates. Crease to the plate at page 11. Otherwise, just the odd spots. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .