POETICAL WORKS.|THE

Glasgow, Scotland: Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1773. full calf, with raised bands, red leather labels and gilt stamped devices on spines, all edges marbled. Foulis Press. small 12mo. full calf, with raised bands, red leather labels and gilt stamped devices on spines, all edges marbled. xii, 162, (2); (xii), 176, (1); (iv), 241+(1); (iv), lvi, (2), 60-197+(1) pages. 4 volumes. Printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis, Printers to the University of Glasgow, set in Brevier Roman and Long Prime Roman, designed by Alexander Wilson (1714-86), type-founder to the University (Gaskell 560). Half title and title page. Vol. I contains the Juvenile Poems, Ode on Solitude, Essay on Criticism, Rape of the Locketc.; Vol II, Imitations of English Poets, Epistles, and Epitaphs. Vol. III, Essay on Man, Satires and Epistles of Horace, and Moral Essaysincluding Of the Characters of Women, and Of the Use of Riches; Vol, IV contains The Dunciad in four books, with A Preface to the five first imperfect edtions and other documents as appendices. Each volume is illustrated with a copperplate engraving as frontispiece. Robert (1707-76) and Andrew (1712-75) Foulis were appointed the Unversity's printer in 1743, establishing a reputation for magnificent editions of the classics, as well as ordinary edtions of classical and modern authors, dominating the Glasgow book trade until their deaths. The chief merits of their books were "careful editing, convenient size, good paper, artistic appearance, and cheapness. They were sought after as admriable specimens of typography and for their severly plain elegance. The proof reading was meticulous, and great care was taken in the choice of paper and type. The firm established a standard on the layout of the title-page, and other improvements which were copied by many of their contemporaries." Robert Foulis also established a school of art and design, the Foulis Academy of Fine Arts, which opened at the University of Glasgow in 1753, and has been described as the single most influential factor in the development of 18th century Scottish art.



Uniformily bound in beautifull full vellum from the early 19th century. Marbled endpapers and pastedown. Each volume contains remnants of former owner's bookplate. Binding is tight, pages are clean and bright. Overall a very good set of a rare item.