SMEDLEY, Edward. Erin. A Geographical and Descriptive Poem. Part I-[II].

SMEDLEY, Edward. Erin. A Geographical and Descriptive Poem. Part I-[II].Dedicated to the students of Westminster School. From the library of an alumnus SMEDLEY, Edward. Erin. A Geographical and Descriptive Poem. Part I [II]. London: Printed by Hamblin and Seyfang for the Author; And sold by W. Ginger. 1810. Large 8vo. Contemporary half calf over drab boards, spine with raised bands and lettered in gilt, armorial supralibros of William Bagot, 2nd Baron Bagot stamped in blind onto both covers (see below), marbled edges,

Dedicated to the students of Westminster School. From the library of an alumnus

SMEDLEY, Edward. Erin. A Geographical and Descriptive Poem. Part I-[II]. London: Printed by Hamblin and Seyfang for the Author; And sold by W. Ginger. 1810.

Large 8vo. Contemporary half-calf over drab boards, spine with raised bands and lettered in gilt, armorial supralibros of William Bagot, 2nd Baron Bagot stamped in blind onto both covers (see below), marbled edges, green silk place marker; pp. [viii], 16 (list of subscribers), 63, [24], folding engraved and hand-coloured map, especially commissioned for the book as frontispiece, engraved and wood-engraved vignettes, printed in large type with wide spacing; hinges a bit weakened but cords holding firm, light offsetting from endpapers and map, otherwise a very good copy of a rare publication.

First edition of this geographical poem on Ireland by Reverend Edward Smedley (d. 1825), Rector at Powderham, Devon. The book was applauded on publication as "the first specimen of a local and descriptive poem on Ireland" (British Critic) and as thus favourably compared to Drayton's Polyolbion.

Provenance: From the library of William Bagot (1773-1856), 2nd Baron Bagot and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He was educated at Westminster School - aptly, as Smedley's Erin is dedicated "To the noblemen and gentlemen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, educated at Westminster School" - and later at Christ Church, Oxford. However, the book's list of subscribers includes only a "Bagot, Rev. E.". The Bagot family's library, housed at their ancestral seat of Blithfield Hall, was sold at Sotheby’s on 26 November 1945.

SKU: 2111605