The Lover’s Tale. [Fore-Edge Painting].

TENNYSON, Alfred.

$1,500.00

Item Number: 146761

London: C. Kegan Paul & Co, 1879.

First authorized edition of this classic poem, following the small “pirated” edition of 1870. Octodecimo, bound in red morocco by Sotheran & Co. with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, decorated with an erotic concealed fore-edge painting depicting a woman posing suggestively for four admiring gentlemen. The term ‘fore-edge painting’ can refer to any painted decoration on the fore-edges of the leaves of a book which is concealed when the book is closed but reappears when the edge is fanned out slightly. In very good condition with light toning to the first and last few leaves, bookplate to the front pastedown.

"The original Preface to 'The Lover's Tale' states that it was composed in my nineteenth year. Two only of the three parts then written were printed, when, feeling the imperfection of the poem, I withdrew it from the press. One of my friends however who, boylike, admired the boy's work, distributed among our common associates of that hour some copies of these two parts, without my knowledge, without the omissions and amendments which I had in contemplation, and marred by the many misprints of the compositor. Seeing that these two parts have of late been mercilessly pirated, and that what I had deemed scarce worthy to live is not allowed to die, may I not be pardoned if I suffer the whole poem at last to come into the light -accompanied with a reprint of the sequel-a work of my mature life-'The Golden Supper' (from the Preface).