The Pleasures of Love; Being Amatory Poems, Original and Translated from the Asiatic and European Languages.
Boston: Published by Belcher and Armstrong, 1808. First American edition from the second London edition (1806). The first London edition was published by James Cundee in 1806. Engraved frontispiece. Binding extremities rubbed. Chipping and wear to spine with crown of spine worn away 1/2." Boards slightly soiled. Joints cracking, but sound. Intermittent light dampstaining to lower margins of a few gatherings. Minor foxing, toning, and offsetting, as is usual with American books of this period. A few minor chips or tears. Moderate chip to lower corner of Q2 and R1. Intermittent light pencil marginalia. Contemporary ink signature to upper corner of title page. A very good copy of a scarce book. Original blue boards with a beige backstrip and printed orange paper label, uncut. Octavo. xii, 194 pp. Item #16314
On a subject so universally interesting, it seemed desirable to bring together what, in different ages of the world, had been written by the poets of different countries. With this view, the present work was undertaken; which comprises translations from the languages of Asia, of ancient and modern Europe, and selections from almost all the poets out of our own country, who have touched upon the subject, except those whose writings are in every one's hand...the Editor has only to add, by way of confession, that many of the translations, and some few of the original pieces are written by himself; to these he did not conceive it necessary to affix any mark of distinction, aware that by being placed among others so remarkable for beauty, their own inferiority, after this avowal, would sufficiently point them out" (from the editor's preface, vi-vii).
Price: $350.00