Bristol: Joseph Lansdown & John Mills, 1808. A lovely example of an English Emblem book. Second Lansdown and Mills edition, following the first of 1806. Two works bound as one. Simple half blue leather with dark cloth boards and gilt titles to the spine. The binding is neat, and clean with a couple of marks only. Owner's name and date to the end paper of each title. Emblems moral and divine has a frontis portrait of Quarles, an engraved title, and 79 engraved emblems. Following this (and still part of the the first book) the Heiroglyphics contains 14 plates. Book two - The School of the Heart, has a frontis (the same portrait) engraved title, and 48 plates. Both books are complete. A total of 143 engraved plates + 2 engraved titles. The binding is slightly weak in parts (holding well, but with slight cracking). The first frontis is slightly separating, and the front end paper has been supported with archival tape. A few light marks to pages, and general darkening of the pages, but overall a very attractive example. Pagination: [x], 278., [iv], 154, [viii]. pp. The the end are the translations of the Latin mottos from the School of the Heart. 155 x 105 mm (6 x 4¼ inches). Francis Quarles (1592-1644) was an English poet. He is best known for the Emblems.

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London: The Ballantyne Press / Hacon & Ricketts / John Lane, 1901. First edition. A lovely copy of this pseudonymous work. One of 290 copies (Edition limited to 290 unnumbered copies, including 10 on vellum, we offer one of the 280 on Arnold's handmade paper). Green buckram spine, with paper covered boards. The paper shows leaves blowing in the wind. Slight bumping to the head and tail of the spine. The paper label is a little rubbed and darkened, but still legible. Externally very good overall. Inside, the book is an immaculate copy, with fractional foxing to the initial pages, and a touch of darkening to the front and rear end papers, otherwise spotless. Opening with a nice ornamented border in black figuring on top Janus, on left the medal of Comodus, and the Amazon and her moon-shaped shield, and below the Nemean lion's skin and Herakles' mace. Illustrations (including the paper boards) are by Charles Ricketts. Michael Field was a pseudonym used for the poetry and verse drama of the English authors Katherine Harris Bradley and her niece and ward Edith Emma Cooper. Although they had intended to remain anonymous, their identity became well known. Although published second, this work is intended as the first in the "Roman Trilogy" which recounts the downfall of Commodus. Ref. Watry B31. - Ransom, Vale Press, 31. - Tomkinson, Vale Press, 31. 88 / LXXXVII pages. (numbered in the book in numerals). 240 by 155mm (9½ by 6 inches).

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