Beschreibung:

THOMSON, James. [ The Seasons: ] -- Spring . London: A Millar, 1731. Second edition. -- Summer . London: N. Blandford for J. Millan, 1730. Third edition. -- Autumn . London: N. Blandford for J. Millan, 1730. Second edition. -- Winter . London: J. Millan 1730. -- Britannia. A Poem . London: N. Blandford for J. Millan, 1730. Third edition. Together 5 parts in 1 volume, 8 o (199 x 120 mm). 4 engraved frontispieces. Contemporary calf (repairs to corners and ends of spine); full tree calf folding case. Provenance : note in a contemporary hand on flyleaf: "This was the Author's Copy given by him to Dodsley. The Corrections in red pencil are Thomson's autograph. J.L." "THE SEASONS." WITH CORRECTIONS THROUGHOUT IN AN UNIDENTIFIED HAND. The early reader has entered corrections on over sixty pages, usually changing a word, sometimes, as on pages 20 and 26 of Autumn , changing an entire line. With its countless editions and permutations, Thomson's The Seasons is one of the most popular pastoral lyrics in the English language. First published from 1726-1730, this copy shows early reworkings of the poem. Its immediate success led to numerous editions in quick succession, many of which perpetuated printing errors (here corrected), but the present copy's reader does more than merely correct typographical problems. Word and phrase choices are altered, as in the line on p. 20, Autumn , from "His bounty taught to gain, and right enjoy" to "Which from his bountious friendship I enjoy."