“IN XANADU DID KUBLA KHAN A STATELY PLEASURE DOME DECREE…”:COLERIDGE’S KUBLA KHAN, IN RARE ORIGINAL WRAPPERS

COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. Christabel; Kubla Khan, A Vision; The Pains of Sleep. London: John Murray, 1816. Slim octavo, original drab brown wrappers, uncut. Housed in custom clamshell box. $8800.

First edition, with the first appearance of these three celebrated poems, in rare original wrappers.

"Christabel" and "Kubla Khan" are two of the best-known poems in the English language and are universally recognized as among Coleridge's finest poetic achievements. They were composed as early as 1797-1798 (Wordsworth was under the impression that "Christabel" would be finished in time for the second edition of Lyrical Ballads, published in 1800), but "it was not until May 8, 1816, that the still unfinished poem of 'Christabel' was offered to [publisher John] Murray, who, upon Byron's recommendation… agreed to take it, paying 70 guineas for it" (Grolier 100 70). With scarce half title and four leaves of publisher's advertisements at rear. Hayward 207. Lowndes, 493. Bookplates of Hugh Walpole, the prolific English novelist best known for The Herries Chronicles. Walpole was a close friend of Henry James and Arnold Bennett, both of whom enthusiastically encouraged his writing efforts. While Walpole struggled early in his life with his sexuality and social awkwardness, he eventually settled down happily with a married policeman in the Lake District (one of the two bookplates is from Brackenburn, his home there). Walpole became a beloved mentor of young writers as well as an art patron whose collection ended up in numerous prominent museums including the Tate.

Interior quite clean, with a bit of faint dampstaining to top inner corner of rear advertisements and last few leaves of text. Fragile original wrappers in excellent condition with one small inkstain to rear panel, modest edgewear. Very desirable in original wrappers.