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London: John Murray, 1813-1814. Mixed Editions (see below). Octavo (22pp); mixed pagination. Later full calf with gilt ruled border, decorated spine in six compartments with spine labels reading "Byron's Works" and "Poems," marbled endpapers and page edges. Armorial bookplate of Charles Daubeny to front pastedown, with another ownership stamp of an H.A. Neek (?) on verso of front free endpaper, and slip mounted to flyleaf listing the contents in ink written in an older hand and the editions noted in pencil beside. Boards bumped at corners with rubbing to surface and along joints, and a brief split just starting near front tail. Giaour sheets a uniformly and lightly toned with scattered foxing, with a few flattened corner creases throughout the volume. Binding is sound. Contents include: The Giaour - Sixth Edition, 1813. [iii]-[viii],66pp. Notable as one of the first mentions of vampirism in English literature (lines 757-768). [WISE Vol 1, p. 83; RANDOLPH p. 28]. The Bride of Abydos: A Turkish Tale - Second Edition, 1813. [iv],72pp. [WISE Vol 1, p. 89; RANDOLPH p. 31] The Corsair: A Tale - First Edition, Second Issue, 1814. [iii]-[xii],100pp. No publisher's imprint on p. 100, with paper showing W. Balston watermarks for both 1812 and 1813 and without the four leaves of supplemental poems seen in other issues. Though there is some disagreement between Wise and Randolph (citing Metzdorf's Tinker Library catalogue), this volume appears to conform to the second issue in either's estimation. Other issues of the First Edition are extended to 108pp with the inclusion of six additional poems, with the publisher's imprint appearing variously on p. 100 or p. 108 and pages watermarked 1812, 1813, or both. Wise suggests the First Issue was printed but uncirculated, with the sheets repurposed and final signature replaced for a 108pp Second Issue; Randolph claims there were four distinct issues all appearing on the same day and disambiguates between issues only to determine printing order. The lack of the additional poems here does seem to support Randolph's take on the matter, unless they were purposely omitted during this binding. At the heart of the variance was Byron's poem "To a Lady Weeping," which stirred up a fair bit of controversy when first printed anonymously in 1812. John Murray ordered this and the other supplemental poems excised from the volume, but Byron found out and insisted they be restored, not wanting to appear scared to have his authorship known. [WISE Vol 1, p. 92; RANDOLPH p. 34] Lara: A Tale - Fourth Edition (First Separate Edition), Second Issue with additional note, 1814. [iv],74pp. The second issue's added pages (71-74) include a long note on the 24th section of the Second Canto, regarding the burial of the Duke of Gandia. Lara was published together with Jacqueline through its first three editions, with this fourth being its first published as a standalone. [WISE p. 101-102; RANDOLPH p. 45-46]. Seller Inventory # 30759
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