1817 The Task by William Cowper Poetry Book
1817 The Task by William Cowper Poetry Book
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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.
The leather binding is solid and structurally sound with rubbing and wear consistent with age and handling, including edge and corner wear and a toned spine. Gilt border decoration and spine lettering remain clear and legible. The gilt page edges show normal rubbing and some dulling from age but read well overall. Internally, the pages show noticeable foxing and spotting throughout, heavier on the early leaves and around the illustrated plates, with occasional light toning. The foxing is typical of paper from this period and does not affect legibility. A pleasing and display-worthy copy of a well-loved English classic.
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