Books and Manuscripts

[Homer] Pope, (Alexander)
The Iliad of Homer
London: W. Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott, 1715-20. In six volumes. First edition (one of only 650 copies). 4to. Illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait of Homer, four engraved plates (including a double-page map) and numerous engraved head- and tail-pieces; lacking the folding plate in Vol. II. Full contemporary calf, red and green morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, rebacked, boards and extremities rubbed and worn; top edges stained dark, other edges speckled red; ownership signature, dated 1772, at top of front free endpaper in Vol. II; scattered very light spotting to text.

First edition of the subscribers' quarto issue of Alexander Pope's famous illustrated translation of Homer's Iliad. Esteemed by Samuel Johnson as "certainly the noblest version of poetry which the world has ever seen." The six volumes were issued between 1715-20, with only 650 copies printed in quarto for the 575 subscribers. Illustrated with a fine engraved frontispiece portrait bust of Homer by George Vertue, a double-page map, the "Shield of Achilles" plate in Vol. V (often missing), and numerous elaborate head- and tail-pieces.