1786 The Lyric Works of Horace - Early Philadelphia Eleazer Oswald Imprint

Description: The Lyric Works of Horace, Translated into English Verse: To Which are Added, A Number of Original Poems. By a Native of America. (John Parke), Printed by Eleazor Oswald, at the Coffee-House, Philadelphia, 1786, 175 pp. Carmen Seculare. The Secular Poem, Composed at the Express Command of Augustus. 179-190 pp. Translations from the Greek and Latin with Original Poems, 193-319 pp. Virginia: A Pastoral Drama, on the Birth-Day of an Illustrious Parsonage and the Return of Peace February 11th, 1784, 324-334 pp. Plus list of subscribers, full original leather, 8.5 x 5.25”, 8vo. In fair condition. Front board detached. Rear board fragile and nearly detached. Repaired poorly with non-archival tape at joints. Moderate wear to extremities with scuffing to edges and corners. Spine abraded and afflicted with tape repair. Boards heavily scuffed overall. Ink stain on front pastedown with remnants of an old signature in pencil that has been hastily erased. Fly leaf soiled and folded improperly. First title soiled with offsetting from frontis, which is lacking. Textblock toned, heavier at times, with ink staining and age spotting. Continuous foxing throughout. Binding remains intact. Rear signature brittle and flaking. Lacking last few leaves of subscribers list. Binding intact. Please see photos. Very early and scarce Philly imprint by Eleazer Oswald. The first edition of earliest American translation of Horace. The “translations” from Horace are actually paraphrases adapted to the circumstances of American history, substituting George Washing for the Emperor Augustus. This work by Parke (1754-1789), a Delaware officer, is one of the most eccentric books of Revolutionary War poetry. According to Wegelin, the play at the end entitled Virginia is the “earliest known attempt to celebrate Washington’s Birthday.” The rarest and oddest of all American books of poetry. RAREA1786NTUB

Price: 1250 USD

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-10-27T19:46:28.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.38 USD