MICKIEWICZ - POEZYE. T. 1-4 [in 2 vols.] Paris 1828-1832, DZIADY cz. III Paris PIERWODRUK

MICKIEWICZ Adam

POEZYE ADAMA MICKIEWICZA.

T. 1-4 [in 2 vols.]

Paris, 1828-1832, At the Barbezat and Delarue Undertakers (vols. 1-2); At the Barbezat Undertakers (vols. 3); Author's imprint (vols. 4). Pp. [4], VII, [3], 236, plate 1; [4], 216; [4], XII, 178; 285, [1]; format 10x15.5 cm

Semkowicz, in his Bibliografia druków Mickiewiczowskich, wrote about this edition that "it is the most beautiful edition of Mickiewicz's 'Poezyj' and truly a veritabletypographical delight. On exquisite white paper, beautiful print (newly cast fonts): The titles of the poems are written in an ornate, calligraphic style, while the endpapers have beautiful and ingenious vignettes here and there. The title page is a real marvel".

T. 1: Publisher's speech [by Leonard Chodźko, dated: May 3, 1828]. [The author's speech has been omitted]. [Dedication as in the 1822 edition]. Ballads and romances. Miscellaneous poems. [Arrangement as in the 1822 edition]. Grazyna the Lithuanian novel. Epilogue of the publisher. Historical footnotes.

T. 2: Dziady Poema. - The Phantom. Part II. Part IV. - Sonnets. - Crimean Sonnets. Explanations to the Crimean Sonnets. - To Joachim Lelewel. - Farewell to Child-Harold. - To M*** Poem written in 1822[The last two pieces were reprinted from the Warsaw Journal 1826, as noted in the List of Things on p. 216].

Edition announced for the author's benefit by Leonard Chodko, at the expense of Klementyna of Sanguszko Ostrowska, who ordered the casting of new fonts suitable for printing Polish works.

In vol. 1 the plate features a portrait of the author engraved by Croutelle according to a drawing by Lelewel.

The circulation of each volume was 1,000 copies.

Volume three was published by the Parisian printer J. Barbezat, "who, wanting to please - as he writes in his introductory notice - the public, decided to supplement the edition of Chodko with a third volume containing new works printed in the Poznan edition" (Semkowicz). And so this volume contained "Konrad Wallenrod," "Ode to Youth" and other "miscellaneous poems." For the first time in the collected edition 'Dream. From Lord Byron'.

"Volume three [...] is completely similar to its preceding, older sibling. The same exquisite paper and beautiful printing in it, the same decorative titles in the headings of the poems." (Semkowicz)

The publication of the fourth volume (Barbezat went bankrupt) was handled by the founders of a Polish printing house in Paris: Eustachy Januszkiewicz and Aleksander Jełowiecki.

An edition of 2,000 pieces. The volume is a continuation of Leonard Chodko's edition (1828). Before releasing the work into circulation, efforts were made to smuggle pieces into the country by secret means. This caused the volume printed in November to appear for sale in Paris only in January 1833." Aleksander Semkowicz, "Bibliography of the Works of Adam Mickiewicz."

The volume contains the first printing of the third part of "Dziady" (the so-called "Dziady" of Dresden). The poem caused a huge impression and stir among the Polish cultural elite. Klementyna Hoffmanowa, née Tańska, noted in her memoirs: "Mickiewicz in this fourth volume stood completely beside the bards of Israel, a few centuries back he would have escaped for a prophet" ("Memoirs", Berlin 1849, vol. 1, p. 114).

At the end of the volume is the poem "To the Friends of the Muscovites".

"Printed in the same way on beautiful white veline, in the same fonts and most accurately in the same typographical arrangement" (Semkowicz).

Semkowicz's views are shared by Syga, writing, "A careful, beautiful edition, very rare today" (Syga).

RARE!

HARD BURNING Half leather 19th century, on the hump of the binding and gilt lettering.

DB condition/ browned paper in places, a few pages. taped up in the spine.

Ekslibrises by J. Dolinski, own signature by the same.