The Poems. Arranged in Chronological Order with a Preface by Sidney Colvin.

 4to., 2 vols; rebound by Sotheran while at their premises in Sackville Street, in half blue morocco over paler blue cloth; ruled in gilt; five raised bands to spine; lettered and decorated in gilt with devices in compartments; upper edge gilt, else untrimmed; pp. [vi], v-xviii, [i], 2-338, [ii]; [vi], v-viii, 371, [iii]; light rubbing along edges of spine, small patch of sunning to upper edge of vol II; slight toning to pages and the odd spot, but very nice copies otherwise. 

Reprint of the Florence Press edition, which originally appeared in 1915. 

A wonderfully-produced collection of Keats’ poems, which includes, of course, such loved works as Sonnet to my Brother George, Endymion (“A thing of beauty is a joy forever”), The Eve of St. Agnes, La Belle Dame sans Merci and Ode to Autumn (“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”). 

The Florence Press was founded in 1908 by the London publishers Chatto & Windus. Operated by Philip Lee Warner, its intention was to produce “beautiful books in the choicest types,” but in more affordable and accessible editions than Kelmscott and other celebrated English fine presses. Florence books are readily distinguishable by their special, elegant and easily-readable type, designed by Herbert P. Horne after 15th century Italian faces.

Colvin (1845-1927) was a curator and literary and art critic who maintained a close friendship with the writer Robert Louis Stevenson. “In the case of Keats this method seems particularly desirable” he writes of this chronological edition, “in him, of all poets, it is vitally interesting to trace the magically swift growth and incidental lapse of genius, the flob and ebb of attainment and inspiration, the sequence and variation of poetic mood and aim within the brief span of years allotted to him.”

But what, without the social thought of thee

Would be the wonders of the sky and sea?  

SKU: 1800180