6.5" H x 4.25" W x .75" D
A beautifully illustrated 1817 London edition of William Cowper’s The Task, the landmark six-book poem that helped steer English poetry toward the intimate, nature-loving voice later embraced by the Romantics. Cowper begins with the famous “sofa” and expands into reflections on rural life, the seasons, society, and the inner world, blending warmth, wit, and moral clarity in a way that still feels surprisingly modern. This copy stands out as a true decorative collector’s piece with full leather boards, an elegant tooled crosshatch design, gilt borders and gilt spine titling, gilt text block edges, and a generous suite of engraved plates that make it display-ready for a library shelf, coffee table, or curated antique vignette.
Language: English
Title: The Task
Author: William Cowper
Publisher: Printed for John Sharpe
Place of Publication: London
Publication Date: 1817
Volume: Single volume (Books I–VI in one)
Binding: Full leather binding with tooled crosshatch pattern and gilt decoration
Features: Gilt border tooling, gilt spine titling, gilt text block edges
Illustrations/Plates: Multiple engraved plates, illustrated
Condition: The leather binding remains solid and attractive with visible rubbing and age wear, including edge and corner wear and a toned spine consistent with handling. Gilt decoration and spine lettering remain clear, and the gilt page edges show normal rubbing and age dulling. Internally, pages show noticeable foxing and spotting throughout, heavier on the early leaves and around the illustrated plates, with occasional light toning from age. Overall, a pleasing and display-worthy early 19th-century illustrated poetry volume.
