Book Description

UTOPIA: A most pleasant, fruitful, and witty Work, of the best State of a Public Weal, and of the new Isle called Utopia. Translated into English by Raphe Robinson, A.D. 1551. A new edition; with copious notes, and a biographical and literary introduction by the Rev. T. F. Dibdin. London: William Bulmer, at the Shakespeare Press, for William Miller, 1808. An attractive & desirable edition, attractively printed and bound 2 volumes, small quarto (172 x 121 mm). Contemporary diced calf (leather) with 5 raised bands to spines marbled endpapers and matching edges. Armorial bookplates of WILLIAM FRERE. Impressed circular ownership marks to the first two blank prelims. of volume one and to one only blank prelim. page of volume two. Engraved portrait frontispiece and 11 woodcuts (5 headpieces and 6 to the text). Hinges a little tender, but all holding; contents clean. Minor scuffing and wear to spines and edges but nothing untoward or unexpected. Very good copies. The first Dibdin edition of More's Utopia, a very attractive edition by the great bibliophile, which includes a bibliography of the early editions, and uses the text of the first English translation of 1551.
Dealer Notes
Both volumes have the armorial bookplates of WILLIAM FRERE, DOWNING LODGE, CAMBRIDGE affixed inside the front.
William Frere M.P .(28 November 1775 – 25 May 1836), was an English lawyer and academic, a law-serjeant and Master of Downing College, Cambridge.
Author DIBDIN, Thomas Frognall (ed.); MORE, Sir Thomas.
Date 1808
Binding FULL DICED CALF WITH RAISED BANDS
Publisher WILLIAM FRERE BOOKPLATES.London: William Bulmer, at the Shakespeare Press, for William Miller.
Illustrator WOODCUTS, not credited
Condition VERY GOOD
Pages clxxx, 141, Vol.1 , 320 vol 2.

Price: £250.00

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