“A NEW LINE IN ENGLISH PROSE”: HANDSOMELY BOUND SET OF NINE PATER FIRST EDITIONS
PATER, Walter. Studies in the History of the Renaissance. WITH: Marius the Epicurean. WITH: Imaginary Portraits. WITH: Appreciations. WITH: Plato and Platonism. WITH: Greek Studies. WITH: Miscellaneous Studies. WITH: Gaston de Latour. London and New York: MacMillan, 1873-96. Together, nine volumes. Octavo, early 20th-century full tan calf gilt, elaborately gilt-stamped spines, raised bands, top edges gilt.
Nine first editions by Walter Pater, uniformly and handsomely bound by Riviere & Son.
“Pater really struck out a new line in English prose… The essence of his attempt was to produce prose that had never before been contemplated in English, full of color and melody, serious, exquisite, ornate” (Kunitz & Haycraft, 488). This handsome set comprises nine first editions of Pater’s works, including his 1885 romance, Marius the Epicurean, which is, “without doubt, Pater's most valuable legacy to literature… Modern humanism has produced no more admirable product than this noble dream of a pursuit through life of the spirit of heavenly beauty” (DNB). Studies in the History of the Renaissance published 1873; Appreciations, 1889; Plato and Platonism, 1893; Greek Studies and Miscellaneous Studies, posthumously, 1895; Gaston de Latour, posthumously, 1896. Frontispiece portrait in Greek Studies. Occasional pencil marginalia.
Marius the Epicurean, Volume II, with expert restoration to front board. An about-fine set, handsomely bound.