Queen Mab, by Percy Bysshe Shelley; With Notes. Published by J.P. Mendum, Boston, c. 1850

Queen Mab, by Percy Bysshe Shelley; With Notes.

Provenance; from the library of the late William St Clair (1937 - 2021), British historian, academic and author. No signature or annotations. Please see our other listings for related works.

Originally published by Shelley in a private edition of just 250 copies, he distributed about 70 copies himself, and the others were held in storage at William Clark's bookshop. This led to unauthorised copies being sold and an expurgated version being produced, leading to a complex series of legal actions involving piracy and blasphemy. 

Published by J. P. Mendum, at the Office of the Boston Investigator (in existence between 1831 and 1904). Undated, but this is a 19th Century publication. Worldcat dates it as being from possibly the 1930s and identifies an ebook edition as being based on a 1953 publication. From appearances alone, c. 1850-1860. An uncommon edition.

A good blue cloth hardback with gilt titles and blind stamped decals. Cover a little scuffed and worn, with some crinkling on the rear top edge.

Text is clean with just a little age toning. 

viii + 9-120pp.

Weight approximately 244g unpacked.

Dimensions: Approximately 182mm high x 125mm wide x 12mm deep.