Books and Manuscripts

Wordsworth, William
The Poetical Works
London: Edward Moxon, 1849-51. A New and Revised Edition. In eight volumes. 12mo. Featuring eight fine fore-edge paintings of views of the Lake District, in Cumbria, Northwest England, birthplace and lifelong residence of William Wordsworth. Full contemporary crimson straight-grain morocco, stamped in gilt, joints and extremities rubbed and lightly worn, spines lightly faded; all edges gilt; armorial book-plate of John Davies Knatchbull Lloyd on front paste-down of each volume, bookseller's ticket at bottom of same in each volume; ownership signature of Rev. John Henry Kirwan Ward (1831-1902) at top of front blank in each volume; location of each fore-edge painting identified in pencil on front blank of each volume. 

A lovely set of William Wordsworth's Poetical Works, featuring eight fine fore-edge paintings depicting the famed Lake District region in Northwest England--his birthplace, longtime home, and inspiration. Of England's many 18th and 19th century writers, it is perhaps Wordsworth who is most intimately connected to the Lake District, where he spent 60 of his 80 years among the area's mountains and waterways. Born in Cockermouth, Wordsworth went to school in Hawkshead. After attending Cambridge University, with a short interlude living in Dorset, he moved back to the Lake District, to Dove Cottage in Grasmere, in 1799, and then to Rydal Mount, in 1813, where he lived until his death, in 1850. 

According to a previous cataloguer the fore-edge paintings depict views of Ullswater, Ambleside, Windemere, Grasmere, Coniston Water, and Rydal Water.