Mason, William

Saffo

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Londra [Dalla Stamperia di Gugl. Bulmer e Co.] 1810 Dramma Lirico In Tre Atti Sul Modello Toscano Dall' Inglese Di Guglielmo Mason Autore Dell' Elfrida E Del Carattaco Tradotto Da T. J. Mathias. Engraved frontispiece. 4to. [1]f, iv, 8, 53, [3] pp. Contemporary half straight-grained red goatskin, brown paper sides, smooth spine divided into six panels by gilt fillets,lettered in the second panel and at the foot, the other panels tooled with a lyre, plain endleaves, uncut edges. (The spine and corners quite heavily worn). With a final leaf of advertisements listing 11 works in Italian published by T. Becket and G. Porter, including an edition of Mathias's translation of "Saffo". The frontispiece, depicting Saffo playing with her lyre on a rock, has offset onto the title. The leather on the binding is worn, but it is otherwise a very good copy, with the edges entirely uncut. Mason originally wrote the opera "Sappho" in 1778 and it was set to music by Giardini. Mathias's Italian version was first published, along with the English text, in 1809. This 1810 quarto edition was for private circualtion only. There is a presentation inscription at the head of the title "Dall' Autore" and a note beneath the imprint "Edizione Non Divulgata", and a letter from T. J. Mathias to Lady Arden, dated 13th May 1811, pasted to the front endleaf. It begins "My Dear Madam. I request the favour of your acceptance of the Lyric Drama of Staffo, of which, in the present form, I have printed a very few copies...". Lady Arden's cypher bookplate appears inside the front cover. Margaretta Wilson (1768-1851) married Charles Perceval in 1787, and he was created Baron Arden in 1802.

• GBP 350.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: ebc1867

• bookseller: George Bayntun (GREAT BRITAIN)