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A privately printed set of the complete works of Edmund Spenser. With illustrations, and a biographical introduction to the sixteenth century poet. A privately printed set of the complete works of Edmund Spenser, with an autobiographical introduction by the literary editor Alexander Grossart. With four illustrations to volume I, collated but Hamerton's Woodcuts and the facsimile called for. With three illustrations to volume III, collated but lacking frontispiece. With two illustrations to volume V, collated and complete. Only 150 copies of this set were printed for private circulation only. Complete in nine volumes. Whilst the title pages in the set state ten volumes, the final book was not published. Grossart provides a detailed biographical introduction to the sixteenth century poet in the first volume, which is followed by Spenser's first major work, The Shepheardes Calendar. This is followed by Complaints, his collection of poems that mournfully or mockingly express the poet's grievances, and his narrative elegy for the heiress Douglas Howar, Daphnaida. Spenser's celebrates the Tudor dynasty in allegorical poem, The Faerie Queen, which can be found in volumes five to seven, followed by a collection of his letters. The prior owner's pencil inscription can be found to the half title or the recto of the front endpaper of the volumes, 'S. B. M. In a full green cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. Bumped to the head and the tail of the spines, with some closed tears to each across the set. Lightly bumped to the extremities. The front hinge has failed to volumes I and IX, and the rear hinge has failed to volume IV, but the spines have been re-adhered to all three volumes. Both hinges are starting, but firm to volume II, the front hinge is starting to volume VII and the rear hinges is starting but firm to volumes V and IX. Internally, the binding is strained to volumes I, IV, and IX, with the front endpaper disbound to the latter volume. Otherwise, the volumes are generally firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean across the set. Good Only. Seller Inventory # 864N58
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