William Diaper — Nereides: Or, Sea-Eclogues
London, J. H. for E. Sanger, 1712 . First edition. Leather. The very scarce first edition of William Diaper's very scarce early 18th century work of poetry, which relocates the traditional eclogue from the rural countryside to the sea. The very scarce first edition of this work. A collection of fourteen pastoral dialogues that relocates the traditional eclogue from the countryside to the world of the sea. Instead of shepherds, the speakers are sea gods, sea nymphs, and other marine figures drawn from classical mythology. Rebacked, retaining original endpapers. Sotheran stamp to verso of front free endpaper. ESTC T126092 A5, B-I4, K3. Collated, complete. Diaper was an English Anglican clergyman, poet, and translator. Rebacked, in a full calf binding retaining the original calf boards, and the original endpapers. Externally, fine. Hinges strained, but firmly held. Internally, firmly bound. Pages significantly age toned due to paper type. Major damp staining to head of fore edge of all but the final three leaves, resulting in minor losses to the paper, and affecting text. Good . Ill.: None. Good .