THE SHIPWRECK: A Poem by William Falconer, with Life by Robert Carruthers Falconer, William Poetry

The son of an Edinburgh barber, Falconer (1732-c.1770) went to sea, first setting out from Leith on a merchant vessel. He saw the harbors of the world from different bows, surviving two shipwrecks, including the one recounted in this popular epic poem, first published in 1762. Printed by R. and R. Clark: Edinburgh, and bound by Leighton, Son & Hodge: London with that firm's ticket to the rear pastedown. Octavo: xxxvi, [9]-153, [1, blank] pp. with 30 textual vignettes, all wood engravings by Edmund Evans, Dalziel Brothers, and W.T. Green, after Myles Birket Foster, as well as decorated chapter title pages and decorated initials, all wood engravings by H.N. Woods after Henry Noel. In the publisher's dark blue morocco-grain cloth binding designed by John Leighton, with beveled boards; gilt-stamped ornamental borders, entwined strapwork surround with marine motif infill, recessed oval panel with blind-stamped rope surround, and gilt-stamped anchor chain surround for medallion, and vignette of mast, sail, and pennants with titling on the front and rear panels; and gilt-stamped borders, nautical decorations, lyre device, and titling bands along the spine. All edges gilt, with pale cream coated endpapers. Period bookplate of Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt on the front pastedown. Minor edgewear to the boards; else very good or better. Provenance: from the Publishers' Bookbindings collection of Ellen K. Morris and Edward S. Levin.