"AN EPOCH IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE"

PERCY, Thomas. Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our Earlier Poets, Together with some Few of Later Date… London: F.C. and J. Rivington; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1812. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary full straight-grain green morocco gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled endpapers and edges. $900.

Revised fifth edition of Percy’s Reliques, in handsome straight-grain morocco-gilt bindings.

First published in 1765, Percy's Reliques marked "an epoch in the history of English literature. It promoted with lasting effect the revival of interest" in early English ballads and poetry (DNB). Thomas Percy's nephew, also named Thomas, revised the Reliques for the 1794 fourth edition. Engraved bookplate and contemporary owner signature of Cornelius Paine, dated 1834.

Light expert restoration to handsome morocco bindings.