Gay, John; Williams, W.H., M.A. (intro.) Trivia: or the Art of Walking the Streets of London. By Mr. John Gay. With Introduction and Notes by W.H. Williams, M.A. formerly Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge; Professor of English Literature in the University of Tasmania Published by Daniel O'Connor, London, 1922. Illustrated by William Hogarth, et al Chiswick Press Edition
Hard cover, 4to, in white cloth blocked in gold with Glasgow School-style art deco roses within a trellis-like grid pattern, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, letterpress printed upon Van Gelder watermarked paper, xxiv, 90 pp., First Edition Thus, with modern Introduction and Notes, as indicated. Tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of the British poet John Gay (1635-1782), plus 25 additional reproduced engraved plates of London scenes (2 scenes attrib. to Hogarth). Includes facsimile title page and Chiswick Press printer's colophon at rear. CONDITION: Near FINE, in a Fair only original d/j. (which has done its job in protecting the volume but is probably best for the bin now.) Some bubbling to cloth at rear hinge, a production fault. Otherwise, volume is extremely clean, firm, and bright. Now in a protective mylar cover. ** Gay, a contemporary of Alexander Pope, J. Swift and J. Arbuthnot, and a part of the Scirblerus Club literary circle, has a memorial in "Poet's Corner" at Westminster Abbey. This poem, in mock heroic style, was his most famous, full of satiric jests on the manners, customs and pretensions of London's fashionable and unfashionable of the early eighteenth century, as well as providing a documentary view of the city. He was also known for two plays, "The Wife of Bath" and "The Beggar's Opera." (British Library, Brittannia)

Ref: POEMEW 9437

$90.00