Select Poems Divine and Humane

Publication: Bloomsbury, The Nonesuch Press, 1928 Formatting: Small 8vo, pp. [vi], 51, [7]. Condition Report: Near Fine. The limp parchment binding is structurally sound, with the pigskin lacing entirely intact and unperished. The parchment exhibits the customary mild dust-soiling and gentle tonal variations expected of this material, though the central gilt floral crest and spine lettering remain remarkably bright and unoxidised. Internally, the volume is notably fresh; the Van Gelder handmade paper is crisp, entirely free from foxing, and the binding is tight without any sagging. The original card slipcase remains sturdy and fully functional, though it shows moderate shelf-wear to the extremities and some characteristic age-toning to the panels. Catalogue Note: This limited edition of Thomas Beedome’s Select Poems Divine and Humane was edited by Francis Meynell. The work is a thoughtful revival of a collection originally published posthumously in 1641 and largely neglected for centuries. Printed on high-quality Van Gelder paper bearing the distinctive Nonesuch watermark, the text is handsomely handset in Janson type and embellished with tasteful typographical ornaments. Bound in traditional limp parchment laced with pigskin thongs, the volume beautifully exemplifies the Press's commitment to marrying the aesthetic standards of the private press movement with commercial printing techniques. The edition was strictly limited to 1,250 copies, making it an attractive addition for collectors of fine press printing and seventeenth-century English poetry. Originally published posthumously in 1641, Thomas Beedome's Select Poems Divine and Humane was largely lost to the centuries, overshadowed by his contemporaries and partially pirated by Henry Bold. This curated collection revives Beedome's voice, offering a blend of spiritual reflections, humane epigrams, and epitaphs that occasionally echo the wit and metaphysical phrasing of John Donne. A quiet but charming example of early seventeenth-century verse, it offers a window into the poetic currents of the era.…