Francis Thompson — Poems

London, Elki Mathews & John Lane, 1893. Hardback. A charming limited edition collection of the works of English poet and Catholic mystic, Francis Thompson. Limited edition of five hundred copies.  With a frontispiece and fourteen page advetisement catalogue to the rear of the work.  Bookplate of one 'Blanche Hoskyns' to front paste down.  In the publisher's original paper covered boards. Pages roughly cut.  Thompson's first work, his poetry influenced writers such as G. K. Chesterton and J. R. R. Tolkien, with his most famous poem 'The Hound of Heaven' present in this collection.  Thompson's talent was discovered by the editors Wilfrid and Alice Meynell, after he sent his poetry to their magazine Merrie England. Thompson, who had developed an opium addiction while living on the streets, was taken into their home. In the publisher's original paper covered boards. Externally smart with loss to the head and tail of the spine. Book plate to front paste down resulting in offsetting to front free. Splitting to paper at spine with webbing visible. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with just the odd spot. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .