AKENSIDE (Mark): The Pleasures of Imagination. A Poem. In Three Books. , London: Printed for R. Dodsley at Tylly's-Head in Pall-Mall, 1744.

FIRST EDITION, first issue. 4to, pp. [3] - 125 [126 blank, 127 - 128 adverts dated January 14], title-page in red and black, with engraved vignette, five-line footnote on p. 9, press figure "1" in lower margin of pages 21, 30, and 32,page 20 misnumbered 22, recent full sheepskin, gilt spine, red morocco label; lacks half-title, lower margin of text water-stained, most noticeably in first ten leaves, boards a little sprung, but an attractive copy. Akenside's reputation has never been as high as it was in the 50 or 60 years or so after this work was published, e. g., Erasmus Darwin said that he"ever maintained a preference of Akenside's blank verse to Milton'," while his daughter Anna Seward recorded that she regarded the present poem as "the most splendid metaphysic poem in any language." (Book ref. 7104 )  £ 200.00

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