[POPE, ALEXANDER] | The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-Comical Poem. London: Bernard Lintott, 1712; [and] The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-Comical Poem. London: Bernard Lintott, 1714

[POPE, ALEXANDER]

The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-Comical Poem. London: Bernard Lintott, 1712; [and] The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-Comical Poem. London: Bernard Lintott, 1714

1712: 8vo (7 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.; 190 x 115 mm). Pp. 353-376 from Lintott's Miscellaneous Poems and Translations, section title, woodcut head- and tailpieces, 4 leaves of publisher's advertisements at end; foxing. — 1714: 8vo (7 x 4 1/8 in.; 175 x 105 mm). Title in red and black, engraved frontispiece and 5 plates by Claude du Bosc after Louis de Guernier, engraved headpieces, tailpiece and initial letter by Simon Gribelin; 4th and 5th plates just shaved, some toning to preliminary leaves, occasional and minor foxing. Volumes uniformly bound to style in full brown speckled calf, overs decoratively stamped in blind and gilt lettered, spines with raised bands in six compartments.   

First publication of Cantos I and II of The Rape of the Lock, together with the first separate edition of Pope's poem (with pp. 29, 44 and 45 misnumbered)

Having first been published as two cantos in 1712 in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations, as present here, Lintott paid Pope £15 for "additions" to the poem, which was then issued in this first separate edition and in a large paper edition. The decorative setting with engraved initials, and head- and tail-pieces was unusual for octavo poems of this period. In four days 3,000 copies were sold, and the poem was rapidly reprinted, "tho' not in so fair a manner as the first impression" (Pope's letter to John Caryll, 12 March 1714).

REFERENCES

Rothschild 1565 and 1570; Griffith 6

PROVENANCE

William Painter (booklabel to front pastedowns)