New Acquisitions Spring 2022 – 12 – Bauman Rare Books “On Earth As Vampire Sent, Thy Corpse Shall From Its Tomb Be Rent”: Byron’s The Giaour, With Early Vampire References—One Of 12 Copies Printed On Heavy Watermarked Paper As Requested By Byron For Personal Distribution, In Original Wrappers 12. BYRON, George Gordon, Lord. The Giaour, A Fragment of a Turkish Tale. London, 1813. Thin octavo, original drab wrappers neatly respined. $6000. First edition, scarce first issue on heavy watermarked paper, one of 12 copies requested of the publisher by Byron for personal distribution (second variant with Byron’s name on the title page). The first of Byron’s “Oriental romances,” including an early Westernized version of the vampire myth, in original wrappers. Byron’s “Fragment of a Turkish Tale” became a publishing phenomenon, going through eight editions in its first year. The first of his “Oriental romances” or “Turkish tales,” The Giaour was followed soon after by “The Bride of Abydos” (1813), “The Corsair” (1814) and “Lara” (1814). Among other exotic attributes, The Giaour includes an important early account of vampires (pp. 22-25) which Byron’s physician, John Polidori, drew upon for his The Vampyre (1819). As an indication of the popularity of this tale, Jane Austen references it in her novel Persuasion (written 1815-16), when Captain Benwick relishes the “hopeless agony” and romantic moodiness of The Giaour—and offers help in pronouncing the title (it rhymes with “flower”). “On May 23, 1813 Byron wrote JohnMurray to have 12 copies of The Giaour struck off for his personal distribution, and these 12 copies form the first issue of this volume” (Randolph). These 12 copies were printed on heavier paper watermarked either “John Hall/1805” or “J Whatman/W. Balston/1809 [or 1810]”; this copy with watermarks on pp. 3, 13, 23, 25, 33, 39. This is the second variant of that first issue, with Byron’s name on the title page. Bound with half title. Randolph, 25-26. Manuscript 14-line poem, in an unknown, apparently 19th-century hand, mounted to verso of front wrapper. Text generally clean, wrappers neatly respined. A near-fine copy of the very scarce watermarked presentation issue. Handsomely Bound Early Illustrated Set Of Byron’s Complete Works 13. BYRON, George Gordon. The Works of Lord Byron: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life by Thomas Moore. London, 1832. Seventeen volumes. 12mo, early 20th-century three-quarter brown morocco gilt. $5500. Lovely early collected edition, edited by Byron’s friend and fellow poet, Thomas Moore, with frontispieces and engraved title pages by Edward Finden, handsomely bound by Morrell. “Byron’s voice—the passionate sorrowing youth turned world-weary libertine—made his works instant bestsellers” (Eisler, 4). This edition contains Byron’s poetry and dramas, arranged chronologically and annotated with notes from his letters and journals, and a biography by Moore. It is illustrated with intricate engravings by Edward Finden, mostly after drawings by J.M.W. Turner and Clarkson Frederick Stanfield. A fine set, handsomely bound. “I had a dream, which was not all a dream.”
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