The Arte of English Poesie.
London: Printed by Harding and Wright in St. John's Square for Robert Triphook, 1811-1815. 2 volume set, 10 inches tall. A superb half morocco by J(eremiah) Larkins with gilt raised bands and exceptionally fine gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt top edges, the remainder being deckled. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. George Puttenham was a 16th century writer and critic. Court records describe him as a 'compulsive adulterer, a serial rapist and a wife-beater', he was also probably the author of 'The Arte of English Poesie', first printed in 1589. It is considered the most systematic and comprehensive treatise of the time on its subject. It is 'contrived into three books: the first of poets and poesies, the second of proportion, the third of ornament.' There is no doubt about the importance of the work, with many later "poetics" indebted to this book. The first edition is exceedingly rare and this tall fine edition of 1811-1815, on hand-made paper, is itself extremely scarce. This is an exceptional example of it.