THE PURPLE ISLAND; Or, The Isle of Man. An Allegorical Poem. To Which is Added CHRIST'S VICTORY AND TRIUMPH, A Poem, in Four Parts, by Giles Fletcher.
London: Printed by Frys & Couchman, Worship-Street, Upper Moorfields: And Sold by J. Buckland, No. 57, Paternoster-Row; T. Wilkie, No. 71, St. Paul's Church-Yard; and J. Matthews, No. 18, in the Strand. 1783. A New Edition, Corrected and Revised, with additional Notes by the Editor. Octavo, bound in near contemporary half-calf over brown marbled paper-covered boards, the spine ruled and decorated in gilt, contrasting green leather title label lettered in gilt. [i] - xvi; [1] - 189 [190 blank]; [191-2 (Aa7-8) Secondary half-title (verso blank)]; [i] - [xii], [1]-75 [76 blank]. Signatures [A1 - L8] commence anew with the title leaf for CHRIST'S VICTORY IN HEAVEN , and on EARTH, and TRIUMPH OVER, and AFTER DEATH; A Poem, in Four Parts, by Giles Fletcher, which bears the imprint of Frys and Couchman, Worship-Street, Upper Moorfields, 1783. Small tear to inner margin of last text leaf; the text block overall is clean and finely printed on crisp paper, binding with light general wear to extremities, light rubbing and a small chip to the edge of the marbled paper on the rear board; overall a pleasing and attractive copy. Item #312847
¶ THE PURPLE ISLAND, first published in 1633, the famous allegorical description of the human body represented as an island with the bones standing for foundations, the veins for brooks, including personifications of the virtues and vices and many anatomical notes in prose. The work was written in imitation of Spencer's FAIRIE QUEEN. Author George MacDonald took the title of his "dream-romance" PHANTASTES [1858] from THE PURPLE ISLAND, it bears the quote from Canto VI at the head of the text: “Phantastes from ‘their fount’ all shapes deriving, In new habiliments can quickly dight.”.
Price: $350.00