1695 Rare English Book ~ KING ARTHUR - Prince ARTHUR. An Heroick Poem. In Ten Books by Sir Richard Blackmore
Author : Sir Richard Blackmore.
Title : Prince Arthur. An Heroick Poem. In Ten Books.
Language : Text in English
Publisher : London: Awnsham & John Churchill, 1695. The second edition, corrected, to which is added an Index explaining the names of countries, cities, rivers, etc.
Size : Small folio 13 "X 8.5 "
Pages : (20),296,(4) pages
Binding : Attractive and good original full calf leather binding (hinges weak partly cracked but still tight, overall slightly worn and scuffed) under a removable protective mylar cover.
Content : Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare foxing and staining, handwritten numbers on title page, Armorial Bookplate of Rev. Henry Leigh Bennett on first endpaper - as shown).
Estimate : (USD 500 - USD 2000)
The book : Nice and rare 17th century second edition of this epic Poem - Prince Arthur, an Heroick Poem in X Books -- it appeared in 1695. Blackmore supported the Glorious Revolution, and Prince Arthur was a celebration of William III. The poem was based on the form of Virgil's The Aeneid and the subject matter of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. It told of the Celtic King Arthur opposing the invading Saxons and taking London, which was a transparent encoding of William III opposing the "Saxon" James II and taking London. John Dennis derided the poem as being "servile" in its treatment of Geoffrey of Monmouth and having an inconsequential and fearful hero. Nevertheless, it went through three editions and William made Blackmore physician-in-ordinary (a position he would hold with Queen Anne as well), gave him a gold medal, and knighted him in 1697. In 1697, Blackmore followed that with King Arthur: an Heroic Poem in Twelve Books.
The author : Sir Richard Blackmore (22 January 1654 – 9 October 1729), English poet and physician, is remembered primarily as the object of satire and as a dull poet, but he was also a respected medical doctor and theologian.