AN ESSAY ON THE DIFFERENT STILES OF POETRY …

[PARNELL, Thomas.]

Published by London: printed for Benj. Tooke at the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleet-street, 1713

About this Item

8vo in fours, pp. [viii], 36; nicely rebound in half red morocco, by Sangorski and Sutcliffe; spine lettered in gilt. First edition: an important literary poem, and the author's first separate publication. Swift suggested that Parnell incorporate some compliments to Lord Bolingbroke; Bolingbroke was pleased and offered a number of corrections. It was no doubt Bolingbroke's involvement that led Pope to omit this poem in his collected edition of Parnell's verse (1722), which he edited after Parnell's death. Provenance: this is an extraordinary association copy, with the cramped signature at top right of title page of 'M. Bury', and on both title and half title of 'Anty. Bury'. On the half title this signature is dated 1730, and below that are the words 'Writ by my Uncle'. Margaret Parnell (1679-1744?) was the twin sister of Thomas Parnell; their father was a merchant from Cheshire who had settled in Dublin. She married William Burgh, son of Ulysses Burgh, Bishop of Ardagh, and had several children. I cannot trace any Anthony among them, but it seems clear enough that the man who signed this book must have been her son. (The names Burgh and Bury were interchangeable at the time, especially in Ireland.) A different hand has written 'By Doctr. Parnell' on both title and half title: this is possibly in Margaret's hand. Also in the half title is the signature 'Juliana Pratt 1843'. This could be Juliana Hallowes, who married James Pratt in 1821: the Pratts were a landed family from Co. Cavan, and James's grandmother was Elizabeth Chetwood, daughter of Swift's friend Knightley Chetwood or Chetwode just a coincidence, perhaps. In modern times this copy belonged to Robert H. Taylor (d. 1985), the great American collector of English literature, whose collection was bequeathed to Princeton University. Another copy from the Taylor collection is now at Princeton, so this must have been disposed of by Taylor before his death. Foxon P70; Rothschild 1512 (a presentation copy); Hayward 149.

Seller Inventory # 23654

Bibliographic Details

• Title: AN ESSAY ON THE DIFFERENT STILES OF POETRY …
• Publisher: London: printed for Benj. Tooke at the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleet-street
• Publication Date: 1713
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Poetry