Description: T H E C O M P L A I N T : O R, Night=Thoughts O N LIFE, DEATH, & IMMORTALITY. L O N D O N : Printed for R. DODSLEY, at TULLEY’S Head in Pall-mall And sold by M. COOPER, in Pater-noster-Row. 1743. DESCRIPTION Firsts / Very Early Editions (ii) + 30pp to 44pp + 34pp + 47pp + 41pp + 72pp + 70pp + 146pp Book measures 260mm x 220mm approximately. Written by Dr Edward Young (1683 to 1765), The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, better known simply as Night-Thoughts, is a poem written and published in nine separate parts between 1742 and 1745. Based on my research. The first ‘night’ is second edition due to the first edition being printed in folio which proved awkward for printers and publishers. The second edition (shortly after in same year 1742) was printed in quarto format, as were all subsequent ‘nights’. This volume for sale is bound with the half-title and has the original first title page issued by Dodsley and dates 1743. This was usual practice for publishers which allowed binders to collate the separate ‘parts’ (now quarto) for binding into one volume once fully published over time. This volume for sale comprises : Night the First : second edition 1742 Night the Second : first edition 1742 Night the Third : first edition 1742 Night the Fourth : undated Night the Fifth : first edition 1743 Night the Sixth : first edition 1744 Night the Seventh : first edition 1744 Night the Eighth : undated Night the Ninth and Last : first edition 1745 Although I have trawled the ‘Dodsley’ archives, I have not been able to ascertain the exact publication dates of the undated ‘nights’ but these seem commensurate with very early / first edition other copies and versions based on my research. Please see below for further interesting information. Bound in original heavy gauge brown full calf. Spine with five gilt-ruled raised bands with gilt motifs to compartments and maroon title label. Twin gilt fillet borders to boards. Marbled end-papers and paste-downs. Engraved frontispiece to title page verso and occasional further vignettes to chapter title pages. CONDITION This volume was sympathetically restored in 2017 by a local highly professional book conservator. The work involved reattaching the front board and original end-papers, stiffening the board corners, and touching up the spine head, foot and label and motif gilding. The results are impressive. Book is holding firm and strong. Boards exhibit some age-related surface scratches, small marks and scuffs, some minor wear and small nicks to edges, all of which embellishes the patina and history of the book. Internally the pages are of higher quality printing paper. The font size tends to be a little smaller towards the latter ‘nights’. Pages are in good condition, with very uniform mild marginal toning and browning throughout, and a little foxing to some mid volume pages. An occasional spot or mark but nothing serious. The rear end-paper has some previous owner ink writing dated August 1830. This volume for sale is indeed very rare. Apart from a few academic libraries, I can only find a few close-to-first edition for sale anywhere (and at a higher cost). Please always refer to photo images for a clearer indication of condition. We are always happy to provide further photo images if required. INTERESTING Edward Young (1683 – 1765) was an English poet, critic, philosopher and theologian, best remembered for the Night-Thoughts which was one of the most printed works of the eighteenth century and was a huge success, being translated into many languages. The poem is written in blank verse. It describes the poet's musings on death over a series of nine "nights" in which he ponders the loss of his wife and friends, and laments human frailties. The best-known line in the poem (at the end of "Night I") is the adage "procrastination is the thief of time", which is part of a passage in which the poet discusses how quickly life and opportunities can slip away. Night-Thoughts was famously illustrated by William Blake in 1797.
Price: 1050 GBP
Location: York
End Time: 2025-02-04T11:12:15.000Z
Shipping Cost: 86.94 GBP
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return postage will be paid by: Buyer
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 14 days
