THE WORKS OF LORD BYRON

London: John Murray, 1819. Together 3 volumes. A very early issue of the Works, including "Poems, “Child Harold’s “Pilgrimage”, "The Corsair", "The Bride of Abyidos", "The Giaour", "Lara", "The Prisoner of Chillon", "The Siege of Corinth", "Lament of Tasso", “Hebrew Melodies”, “Manfred” and early editions of a number of the other works. 8vo, very handsomely bound in full contemporary crimson morocco of Regency style, the spines lettered and decorated in compartments with multi gilt-ruled raised bands, covers bordered with double gilt fillet rules and decorated with floral patterned roll tooling in blind. board edges and turn-ins tooled in gilt, all edges gilt. xv, [1], 479; [iv], 491, [3]; viii, 330 pp. An unusually handsome and well-preserved set, internally clean and in a very pleasing and appropriate contemporary binding. The volumes all tight and strong, the hinges all in good order, the text-blocks clean and bright and crisp with only a touch of spotting seen on occasion. An excellent set. VERY EARLY ISSUE, QUITE RARE AND UNIQUE. A beautifully bound collection of Byron early editions with additional poems and printings included. A very early and scarce collection of Byron’s works. The collection was originally produced in 1815 in two volumes as stated on the title pages of Volumes I and II, with the third volume added in 1816. The books were bound as a set in these fine period bindings ca. 1819-1820.
Lord Byron was one of the leading figures of the Romantic Movement and remains today one of the most popular and romantic poets of the language. Often described as the most flamboyant and notorious of the major Romantics, Byron was both celebrated and castigated in life for his aristocratic excesses, including huge debts and numerous love affairs. He has since become regarded as one of the greatest British poets, and remains widely read and influential. Among Byron's best-known works is the narrative poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, along with "Hebrew Melodies", "The Siege of Corinth", "The Corsair" and "Poems".
An excellent set in handome period bindings. Murray had a particular interest in Byron and is largely responsible for publishing and promoting the author, as this fine collection attests. If not for Murray’s efforts, it may have taken Byron's writings years, if ever, to reach the same height of popularity and fame.