The Georgics of Virgil; Translated into English Verse by Mr. John Dryden, designed and printed by Richard Ellis for Cheshire House, New York, Limited edition, 1931

Composed around 29 BC, The Georgics is Virgil's celebrated four-book poem on agriculture, rural life, and mankind's relationship with the natural world. Written during the reign of Augustus, it combines practical advice on farming, viticulture, animal husbandry and beekeeping with reflections on labour, the changing seasons, and the moral virtues of country life. Regarded as one of the masterpieces of classical Latin literature, the work has inspired poets, artists and translators for centuries. This edition presents John Dryden's acclaimed seventeenth-century verse translation, first published in his monumental 1697 folio of Virgil's works, accompanied by finely reproduced engravings from that original edition.

The Georgics of Virgil; Translated into English Verse by Mr. John Dryden.

Designed and printed by Richard Ellis for Cheshire House, Publishers, New York, 1931 Numbered Limited edition 272/1200. First edition thus.

"The present edition of The Georgics has been reprinted from the First folio Edition of Dryden's Collected Works of Virgil, published by Jacob Tonson, in London: 1697. The twenty engravings are reproduced from the originals in the first folio."

A very good copy of this splendid edition of Virgil's works. A folio sized volume bound with tan leather spine with blind stamped titles, and with design to resemble stitching. Boards covered with a decorative brown paper. Binding is sound. Some wear and rubbing to head of spine, and some more significant losses near the tail.

Overall the text is lovely and clean and in fine condition. Printed on an ivory stock with rough cut edges to vertical and lower edges.

Provenance: First pastedown features a small colourful bookplate with 2 swans drinking from a wine glass above a shield with 3 sickles. This is believed to be the bookplate of the controversial Civil War General and politician Colonel Daniel Edgar Sickles (1819 - 1914). He was a bibliophile, and his extensive collection of books and related materials was auctioned by Parke-Bernet in 1847 and 1950, and items from that collection are known to have carried this bookplate. Clearly from the dates, the book must have been owned by a descendant of his.

The plates are beautifully produced.

Text in English.

xiii + 182pp + (1) limitation page.

Weight approximately 1.36kg unpacked.

Dimensions: Approximately 362mm high x 140mm wide x 20mm deep.