1744 Butler, Samuel [William Hogarth] Hudibras 16 plates ‘Best Edition’ - Book, Humour, Satire

Butler, Samuel [William Hogarth]

Hudibras, in three Parts, written in the Time of the late Wars: corrected and amended. With large annotations, and a preface by Zachary Grey, LL. D. Adorn' d with a new set of cuts.

Cambridge, printed by J. Bentham, printer to the University, for W. Innys and others, 1744. 

2 Vols. 

8°. (16), XXXVI, (42) 424 (16) S.; (2) 446 (24) S. 

With 1 engraved portrait from G. Vertue and 16 (5 of them folded) cupper plates from J. Mynden after W(illiam) Hogarth. 

Contemporary calf with gilt fillets and gilt spine and gilt spine labels. 

Butler’s major work, the comical heroic poetry "Hudibras" is a sharp satire on the puritans, written in "mock-heroic"-style. The name Hudibras has been taken from Spensers "Faerie Queen". A form of "Don Quijote". Burlesque humor in Rabelais manner (Wilpert I, 260).

According to Dibdin and Lowndes, this is the best critical edition of Hudibras’. It is the first to contain the Preface and Annotations by Grey Although the Hogarth illustrations did appear in earlier editions, they were re-engraved for this edition.

AN UNUSUALLY FINE COPY. Bindings cracked at joints but holding well. Corners with old restoration. Minor rubbing to binding. Internally very clean on fine paper. Tear to one plate along fold.

Provenience: Ex Libris and signature of Samuel F. Brown with his engraved ex libris and gilt arm oriel device to covers.