The Works of Mr, William Congreve. In Three Volumes. Consisting of his Plays and Poems.

3 Vols., royal 8vo (234 x 140 mm), wide margin copy, xxiv, [16], 358, [2]pp., 2 engraved plates; [12], 17-514, [2]pp., 2 engraved plates; [12], 514, [2]pp., 2 engravings, some minor spotting but generally very clean, marbled endpapers, contemporary long grained red morocco by Roger Payne, spine with raised bands with gilt thin lines, boards with gilt triple frame lines, Geek-key tooling to turn-ins, all edges gilt, a fine set. A fine set of John Baskervilleís edition of William Congreve (1670-1729), the English Restoration playwright and poet. The portrait (slightly offset) is engraved by T. Chambers after Kneller and the plates are engraved by C. Grignion after F. Hayman. Roger Payne (1738-1797), the most accomplished and influential of the eighteenth-century English bookbinders. Payne was an outstanding craftsman, his books are very well forwarded and his style of finishing displays not only a high level of skill but also very good taste. The splendid simplicity of his bindings give them a individuality which strongly appeals today. Provenance: From the firm of Payne and Foss, with ìN.O.X. Payne Foss 1843î in the upper corner of the rear fly leaf. Engraved armorial bookplates of William Gott, Bishop of Truro (1830-1906) and Einar Josefson (who bought it in 1956). Loosely inserted is a part letter from The Rosenbach Company to Harris E. Kirk where they send the copy on approval. ìThis is a large paper in a red straight morocco by Roger Payne and was formerly in the collection of the Rt. Rev. John Gott, D. D. Bishop of Truro. Of course I do not need to tell you that books printed at the Baskerville Press are much more desirable in a morocco binding than in calf, and Roger Payne bindings are among the most esteemed.î Gaskell, 16; The Rothschild Library, 2636.