Beschreibung:

SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe. The Poetical Works . Edited by Mary Shelley. London: Bradbury and Evans for Edward Moxon, 1839. 4 volumes, 8 o (161 x 103 mm). Half-titles in vols. II and III. Engraved frontispiece portrait after William Finden in vol. I. (Without half-titles in vols. I and IV, some minor soiling.) Later brown half morocco gilt, top edges gilt. Provenance : Mrs. Alexander (pencilled name and address on page 242 in vol. IV; ?her occasional marginalia and addition of punctuation and title on pages 4 and 238 in vol. III) -- purchased from the Central Book Store, 1940s. FIRST EDITION of the first authorized edition of Shelley's collected poems. In 1824, the poet's father, Sir Timothy Shelley, prevented further publication of Shelley's writings for fifteen years. "In 1839, the obstacles to an authentic edition having been removed... Mrs. Shelley published what was then supposed to be a definitive edition in four volumes, enriched with biographical notes and some beautiful lyrics which had remained in manuscript" (DNB). Ashley V, p.105; Granniss/Grolier Shelley 88. (4)