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LUCAN, (39--65)
[Pharsalia. 1760]
M. Annaei Lucani Pharsalia cum notis Hugonis Grotii, et Richardi Bentleii.
Twickenham (Place), Strawberry-Hill,, 1760.
[6], 525, [1] p. : [2] engr. vignettes ; 29.5 cm. (4º)

First edition. The dedication signed: 'Richardus Cumberland'. This is the variant having the comma in line 8 of the 'Ad Lectorem' page under the first 'u' of 'Burmannum'; in the first state the comma is under the 'B'. Lucan's epic poem Pharsalia, written during the reign of Nero, concerns the Roman Civil War between Julius Caesar and Pompey which ended with the latter's defeat on the Thessalian plains of Pharsalus, and is noted for its supernatural elements. This edition is considered one of the finest examples produced by Horace Walpole's famous Strawberry-Hill press. See A.T. Hazen, A bibliography of the Strawberry Hill Press (Dawsons of Pall Mall, 1973), p. 49. ESTC t112686; Hazen 7, second state.

Copy Notes Extra-illustrated with an inlaid watercolour portrait of Horace Walpole, Lord Orford by John Carter, after a painting by John Giles Eccardt, which is inscribed in pencil on the verso The Picture from which this draft / was made is now at Lee near Bridge / the seat of the Eldest son of Egerton / Bridges Esq. now or lately who resided at Denton in / Kent. The picture was painted by / Eckhardt / at Strawberry Hill / [Signed] W.Capon, bound to face the title; an inlaid engraved portrait of Richard Bentley by James Heath after John Giles Eccardt published in 1798, before letters, bound following the 'Ad Lectorem'; and a hand-coloured aquatint of the South Front of Strawberry Hill drawn and etched by Edward Edwards, and engraved in aquatint and published by Francis Jukes in 1784, bound following the portrait of Bentley.

Binding C19th red straight-grained morocco, blind double-ruled borders, blind roll-tooled spine direct-lettered in gilt 'Lucani Pharsalia Straw. Hill 1760', gilt edges.

Reference Number 1130

Additional Names Walpole, Horace, 4th Earl of Orford (1717--1797) - Art collections, Early works to 1800; Strawberry Hill Press; Bentley, Richard (1708--1782); Cumberland, Richard (1631--1718); Grotius, Hugo (1583--1645); Capon, William (1757--1827); Pharsalus, Battle of, 48 B.C., Poetry


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