THE WORKS OF PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY, Comprising Queen Mab, The Revolt of Islam, The Cenci, &c.&c.

First edition thus. One volume bound as two. 16mo. Smartly bound in contemporary full green morocco with four raised bands and titles in gilt to the spines. Gilt dentelles. All edges gilt. Green silk ribbon page marker to each volume. Engraved portrait frontispiece of Shelley to the first volume. A very good set, the bindings square and tight with a the odd minor mark to the boards, a little rubbing to the joints and spine ends and a touch of bumping to the corners. The contents with the pencil ownership inscription of the author William St Clair to the front pastedown of the first volume and some light spotting to the preliminary pages are otherwise clean throughout. An attractive set.

An early pirated pocket-sized edition of Shelley's poetical works, the first to be issued by the publisher Charles Daly. In addition to its diminutive size and early date (issued three years prior to Mary Shelley's official collected edition of 1839), the work is also notable for its engraved frontispiece which presents a version of the Curran portrait of Shelley apparently not found in any other edition of the poet's works. Provenance: from the library of William St Clair (1937-2021).