Beschreibung:

Alfred Lord Tennyson Fine set of first editions TENNYSON, Alfred, first Baron Tennyson (1809-1892). [Works.] London, Cambridge, 1827-1886. The finely bound Foyle set of first editions of Tennyson's works published before 1888, including the early rarities, Poems by Two Brothers, "Timbuctoo," and Poems, Chiefly Lyrical. The pencilled date of '[18]88' at the end of three volumes, and the absence of the four very late or posthumous volumes, indicate that the present set was bound up in or around 1888, possibly by the bookseller and publisher Basil Montagu Pickering of Piccadilly, who specialised in Tennyson's works, and was the publisher of the first bibliography of Tennyson's works. Although many of Tennyson's poems were individually published as broadsides or pamphlets, limited editions for private circulation, or "trial editions" (i.e. proofs for the poet's use), and are not included in the present set, they were normally included in the next book to be issued. Therefore, the present set contains all Tennyson's poetry published before 1888, with the exceptions only of 'Stanzas on the Marriage of the Princess Royal' (1858, issued as a broadside, and not reprinted in The Works), the Dedication to The Idylls of the King (1862, prefixed to the fourth edition), the song cycle "The Window" (privately printed 1867, published 1871), and 4 other poems subsequently reprinted in various editions of The Works. Comprises: Poems by Two Brothers. 1827. * [Timbuctoo, in:] Prolusiones academicae. Cambridge University Press, 1829 * Poems, Chiefly Lyrical. 1830. * Poems. 1833. * Poems. 1842. 2 volumes. * The Princess; A Medley. 1847. * In Memoriam. 1850. * Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington. 1852. * Maud, and Other Poems. 1855. * Idylls of the King. 1859. * Enoch Arden, Etc. 1864. * The Holy Grail and Other Poems. 1870. * Gareth and Lynette Etc. 1872. * Queen Mary A Drama. 1875. * Harold A Drama. 1877. * The Lover's Tale. 1879. * Ballads and Other Poems. 1880. * Becket. 1884. * The Cup and The Falcon. 1884. * Tiresias and Other Poems. 1885. * Locksley Hall Sixty Years After Etc. 1886. Full listing with imprints, issue points, references, etc., available online or by request to the department. 22 volumes, octavo (various sizes). Uniform 19th-century polished calf gilt by Riviere & Son, three volumes with the stamp of 'B.M. Pickering', but employing the same tools, the covers with triple gilt fillet borders joined by gilt floral cornerpieces, the spines gilt in 6 compartments divided by raised bands, contrasting gilt morocco lettering-pieces in two compartments and gilt-stamped date at the foot, all but 2 volumes decorated in the other compartments with broad or narrow urn tools surrounded by gilt floral tools and frames, Prolusiones ... and Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington decorated in the other compartments with gilt flower-vase tools, all with gilt board edges and roll-tooled turn-ins, top edges gilt, others uncut or trimmed (light rubbing on extremities, surface cracking on some joints, a few covers scuffed, one spine split on the first compartment.) Provenance: Three volumes with pencilled collation note on final leaf, 'Perfect ... 10.7.88'; occasional pencilled annotations or early ownership inscriptions; William A. Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey (morocco bookplates; his sale, Christie's 12 July 2000, lot 747). Please note this lot is the property of a private individual.