Book Details

Author: Spence, Joseph:

Title: Polymetis: or, An Enquiry concerning the Agreement between the Works of the Roman Poets, and the Remains of the Antient Artists. The Second Edition, corrected by the Author.

Publication: London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley 1755.

Description: Second edition, 'corrected by the author'. Folio, pp. vi, 361, [i] + portrait frontispiece and 41 further plates, of which 6 are folding. Other illustrations in the text. A little offset toning from some of the plates (which appears to be common in copies of this work), very occasional light scatters of foxing, generally bright and clean. Contemporary brown calf, spine gilt, black morocco label, single-line gilt borders, marbled endpapers. Endcaps worn and endbands lost, joints worn with the upper just starting at each end, small and neat repair to surface leather of upper board, ink blot to rear board, edges a bit chipped and corners frayed but a very good, sound copy. To title-page, in pencil, ownership inscription of David Gould, dated December 20th 1940. Large pencil sketch of a man playing a piano, captioned 'Playing one of the plates in this work', on the back of a plate opposite p.257.

Spence's (1699-1768) 'long gestated Polymetis was published as a lavishly illustrated folio in February 1747 and earned him at least ?1450 by subscription and sale of copyright. Conceived during Spence's first visit to Italy and with much of its material collected there, Polymetis was intended to show how the works of ancient artists and of Roman poets illustrate and explain one another. It was attacked in Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's Laokoon (1766) and, though new editions appeared in 1755 and 1774, and abridged versions for the use of schools were current until the 1820s, it sank fairly quickly from serious notice. However, it proved an invaluable guide to mythological images for Keats.' (Sambrook, ODNB). Polymetis is, in common with several of Spence's other works, written in dialogue form as he thought the first person singular seemed arrogant.

Bibliography: ESTC T130824.

Reference Number: [55072]

Price: £500

enquire

	Author: Spence, Joseph: Title: Polymetis: or, An Enquiry concerning the Agreement between the Works of the Roman Poets, and the Remains of the Antient Artists. The Second Edition, corrected by the Author. Publication: London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley 1755. Description: Second edition, 'corrected by the author'. Folio, pp. vi, 361, [i] + portrait frontispiece and 41 further plates, of which 6 are folding. Other illustrations in the text. A little offset toning from some of the plates (which appears to be common in copies of this work), very occasional light scatters of foxing, generally bright and clean. Contemporary brown calf, spine gilt, black morocco label, single-line gilt borders, marbled endpapers. Endcaps worn and endbands lost, joints worn with the upper just starting at each end, small and neat repair to surface leather of upper board, ink blot to rear board, edges a bit chipped and corners frayed but a very good, sound copy. To title-page, in pencil, ownership inscription of David Gould, dated December 20th 1940. Large pencil sketch of a man playing a piano, captioned 'Playing one of the plates in this work', on the back of a plate opposite p.257. Spence's (1699-1768) 'long gestated Polymetis was published as a lavishly illustrated folio in February 1747 and earned him at least ?1450 by subscription and sale of copyright. Conceived during Spence's first visit to Italy and with much of its material collected there, Polymetis was intended to show how the works of ancient artists and of Roman poets illustrate and explain one another. It was attacked in Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's Laokoon (1766) and, though new editions appeared in 1755 and 1774, and abridged versions for the use of schools were current until the 1820s, it sank fairly quickly from serious notice. However, it proved an invaluable guide to mythological images for Keats.' (Sambrook, ODNB). Polymetis is, in common with several of Spence's other works, written in dialogue form as he thought the first person singular seemed arrogant. Bibliography: ESTC T130824. Reference Number: [55072] Price: £500 enquire << Back
	© Copyright 2026, all rights reserved Unsworth's Antiquarian Booksellers, 74 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4PG