Selected by: Oliver Goldsmith

Publisher/Date: London: printed for William Griffin, 1767. First Edition, First State .

General Note: With half-titles. The titlepage to v.2 differs in having no price below the imprint and the date in Roman rather than arabic (Scott). In 4 states, of which this is state 1: vol. 1, pp. 265-269 misnumbered pp. 165-169, p. 145 has catchword: “Thoug”. [ESTC]

Format/Condition: Two volumes in very good condition: rebound by Zaehnsdorf. Three-fourths leather bound with marbled covers; matching marbled end leaves; all edges gilt with a few scratches/blemishes, gilt titling and year on hubbed spine. Light wear to spine leather on vol 1. Tiny chip at bottom of half-title of vol. 1. Vol 1 – 269 pages; Vol 2 – 262 pages Contents leaf at end of each vol., leaves at beginning and end with some marginal browning; occasional staining.No foxing. Vol. 1 has light pencil notations on ffep of vol 1: “2 vol, 1st ed cuj 57 107” Each book measures approx 7×4 ¼ inches. Beautifully bound.

Bookbinder: Joseph Zaehnsdorf (1816-1886) was a master binder in London and one of Europe’s most famous fine custom binders. He was born in Budapest and apprenticed to Herr Knipe, a bookbinder of Stuttgart and later worked in Vienna with Herr Stephan. After arriving in London in 1837 he went to work for Messrs. Westley & Co and later for John Mackenzie. In 1842 he established his own firm which created a variety of traditional and less-traditional leather bindings. An excellent craftsman, Zaehnsdorf was one of the most influential bookbinders of his time. During his lifetime, examples of his workmanship were in libraries of all of the great English book collectors. After his death, the firm was taken over by his son Joseph William Zaehnsdorf (1853-1930). The company survives today as SSZ, a combination of the Zaehnsdorf and Sangorski & Sutcliffe firms.

Description: An important anthology, for which Goldsmith was paid £50 for his efforts in selecting what he considered to be the very best works of the very best authors. Includes works by John Milton, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Thomas Gray, Samuel Johnson, John Dryden, John Gay and more. In the preface, Goldsmith explains his reasons for creating the anthology and his rationale in his selections. From the Preface:

“My Bookseller having informed me that there was no collection of English Poetry among us, of any estimation, I thought a few Hours spent in making a proper selection would not be ill bestowed. Compilations of this kind are chiefly designed for such as either want leisure, skill, or fortune, to choose for themselves; for persons whose professions turn them to different pursuits, or who, not yet arrived at sufficient maturity, require a guide to direct their application. To our youth, particularly, a publication of this sort may be useful; since, if compiled with any share of judgement, it may at once unite precept and example, shew them what is beautiful, and inform them why it is so: I therefore offer this, to the best of my judgement, as the best collection that has yet appeared…As to the short introductory criticisms to each poem, they are rather designed for boys than men…In short, if this work be useful in schools, or amusing in the closet, the merit all belongs to others. I have nothing to boast, and at best, expect, not applause, but pardon”