A Collection of Old Ballads - Ambrose Philips (attrib.) - Victorian Facsimile of the 1723-1725 Edition - 3 Volumes

First published between 1723 and 1725, A Collection of Old Ballads was one of the earliest major printed anthologies devoted to English popular ballads, predating Thomas Percy's influential Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765) by more than forty years. The collection gathered together historical, romantic, comic and legendary ballads from earlier printed and manuscript sources, including such enduring subjects as Robin Hood, Lady Godiva, Chevy Chase, Jane Shore, King Arthur, old English romances and popular street literature.

Many ballads are accompanied by introductory notes, described on the title page as "historical, critical, or humorous", and the volumes are illustrated throughout with reproductions of the engraved plates from the original eighteenth-century edition. The compilation has long been traditionally attributed to Ambrose Philips, although the attribution is not stated in the books and has been questioned by later scholars. This handsome three-volume set is the scarce Victorian facsimile reprint of the original 1723-1725 edition, faithfully reproducing the text, typography and illustrations of the celebrated eighteenth-century work on laid paper.

A Collection of Old Ballads. Corrected from the best and most Ancient Copies Extant. With Introductions Historical, Critical, or Humorous. Illustrated by Copper Plates. No compiler stated, but traditionally attributed to Ambrose Philips. Three volumes, complete.

Published in London as the scarce Victorian facsimile reprint of the original 1723-1725 edition, circa 1872 (possibly by Trübner & Co., but this is not certain).

The books retain their original 18th Century publishing details as follows;

Vol I: Printed for J. Roberts; and sold by J. Brotherton, A. Bettesworth, J. Pemberton, J. Woodman, and J. Stag, London, 1723.

Vol II: Printed for J. Roberts, and D. Leach; and sold by J. Brotherton, A. Bettesworth, J. Batley, J. Pemberton, J. Woodman, and J. Stag, London, 1723.

Vol III: Printed for J. Roberts, D. Leach; and J. Batley, 1725.

A very good set of hardbacks bound with brown morocco leather spine and corners and green cloth over boards. Covers with some wear and bumping, and the outer joints and raised bands are rubbed. Cracking to the top of the rear joint at the head of the spine of Volume I. Inner hinges remain intact and the bindings are sound.

Spines with raised bands and gilt titles. Bound by J. Larkins in the nineteenth century (small binder's stamp to the rear of the first free marbled endpaper).

Books with matching marbled endpapers with gold metallic highlights. The text is exceptionally clean and bright throughout, and the illustrations remain dark, crisp and well printed. Gilt top edge. Printed on laid paper. A handsome Victorian facsimile edition of one of the most important early collections of English popular ballads.

Text in English.

Vol I: (i) + frontispiece + (i) + viii + (ii) + 287pp + (1) + 14 additional plates.

Vol II: frontispiece + (i) + xi + (iv) + 266pp + 14 additional plates.

Vol III: (i) + frontispiece + (i) + xii + (v) + 263pp + 12 additional plates.

The original work was issued without a list of plates. This set contains forty-three plates, including a frontispiece to each volume, faithfully reproducing the illustrations of the original edition, and there is no evidence to suggest that any plates are lacking.

Weight approximately 2.3kg unpacked (the set).

Dimensions: each volume approximately 227mm high x 152mm wide x 29mm deep.