De Rerum Natura Libri Sex.
Birmingham: Baskerville, 1772. Full morocco, 11 1/2 inches tall. A magnificent later binding by Birdsall with gilt raised bands, delicate gilt tooled panels around a pomegranate centre tool, and exceptionally precise lettering especially at the tail. The crushed leather of the boards is framed within 4 gilt fillets. Wide gilt and blind dentelles and all edges gilt. Slight foxing to the title page then clean. At the head of the title page is an an early inscription 'Given Mr Penn (?) by Dr. Davis, head master of Eton, on his leaving that school'. Jonathan Davies was head at Eton 1773-1792. The armorial bookplate of Andrew Irving, Assistant Master of Charterhouse is on the reverse of the free endpaper. A fine example of the first Baskerville edition of this work which was a great influence on the Augustan Poets, in particular Virgil and Horace.