Rogers, Samuel (1763-1855)

Italy, A Poem [Companion Volumes in Fine Sangorski & Sutcliffe Bindings] [1830 First Edition] [with:] Poems

London: T. Cadell, 1830 & 1834. Full Leather Hardcovers.

THE ROMANTIC GRAND TOUR IN FINE BINDING.
An elegant two-volume presentation of Samuel Rogers's best-known works, uniformly bound in richly gilt full red morocco by the celebrated London binders Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Italy—first published in 1830—became one of the defining literary expressions of the Romantic fascination with the Italian landscape, history, and artistic heritage. Together with Poems (1834), these volumes present Rogers's mature work in bindings worthy of one of nineteenth-century England's most admired literary figures.

A POET WHO INSPIRED AN ERA.
Samuel Rogers occupied a remarkable position within British literary culture. Although today remembered less than contemporaries such as Byron, Wordsworth, and Scott, Rogers was among the most respected literary hosts and patrons of the Romantic generation. His salons brought together the leading writers, artists, and statesmen of the age, while Italy helped shape the Victorian imagination of the Italian Grand Tour through its combination of poetry, travel, history, and art. The work is further enhanced by numerous finely engraved illustrations integrated throughout the text, creating one of the period's most attractive illustrated literary productions.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:BINDINGS BY SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE.
Uniformly bound in full crimson morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe for N. J. Bartlett & Co. Boards ruled and decorated in gilt with elegant Celtic-inspired corner ornaments and panel borders. Spines divided into compartments with elaborate gilt tooling, gilt lettering, raised bands, and decorative floral devices. Top edges gilt. Two octavo volumes (approximately 8.25 inches tall).
+++ Italy, A Poem (1830): vii, 284 pages.
+++ Poems (1834): viii, 295 pages.
Illustrated throughout with numerous engraved vignette illustrations integrated within the text. Printed on quality wove paper.

CONDITION: VERY GOOD. The bindings remain tight and square with clean interiors and light, even age-toning, principally confined to the margins.
The morocco shows moderate shelf wear concentrated at the extremities, with rubbing along joints, corners, spine ends, and board edges. The spines exhibit moderate sunning, resulting in a pleasing but noticeable mellowing of the original crimson color. Gilt decoration remains bright and attractive throughout.
The text blocks are clean with only occasional scattered foxing or minor age-related spotting. No ownership inscriptions, bookplates, or other notable copy-specific markings observed. A handsome and well-preserved matching set.

LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE: ROMANTIC LITERATURE AND THE GRAND TOUR.
Samuel Rogers occupies an important place in English Romantic literature not only for his poetry but also for his influence upon the literary society of nineteenth-century Britain. A successful banker whose wealth afforded him independence, Rogers became one of London's foremost literary hosts, maintaining friendships with Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Moore, Scott, and Turner.

ITALY AS A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.
Inspired by Rogers's travels through Italy after the Napoleonic Wars, Italy blends poetry, historical reflection, and travel writing into one of the century's most influential literary portraits of the peninsula. Appearing just before the Victorian explosion of tourism, it helped cultivate English fascination with Italian art, architecture, Renaissance history, and classical antiquity.

Its numerous engravings transformed the work into both a literary and visual celebration of Italy, making it one of the most admired gift books of the period.

SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE.
Founded in London in 1901, Sangorski & Sutcliffe became one of the foremost English fine-binding firms of the twentieth century. Their craftsmanship, combining traditional hand-finishing with distinctive decorative gilt work, remains highly regarded among collectors. Uniform literary sets bound by the firm are especially desirable for their elegance, durability, and enduring aesthetic appeal.

SUBJECTS: Samuel Rogers, Romantic Poetry, Italy, Grand Tour, Sangorski & Sutcliffe, Fine Binding, English Literature, Literary Illustration, Nineteenth-Century Poetry, British Book Arts, English Literature, Romantic Literature, Poetry, Fine Bindings, Illustrated Books, Grand Tour, Victorian Collecting.

Item #22344

Price: $625.00