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ROCHESTER, John Earl of. Poems, (&c.) On Several Occasions: with Valentinian; A Tragedy.

London. Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1696. Fourth edition.
8vo. [10], xv, [7], 208, 177-224pp. Later blind-ruled calf, later rebacked to style, preserving contemporary contrasting red Morocco lettering-piece. Extremities rubbed. Leaves spotted.
The second appearance, and fourth edition proper of the complete poems of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), English libertine poet and regular at King Charles II's Restoration court. His poems largely circulated in manuscript during his lifetime, and indeed his notoriety as a drunkard and womanizing member of the literary 'Merry Gang' who had twice to absent himself from the Court for debauched misdeeds far exceeded that of any reputation based on those few works (such as A Satyr Against Mankind) which did apparently appear in print before his death. Poems on several occasions was first published in 1680, but it was far from an exhaustive collection until the third edition (of which this is a reprint) appeared in 1691.
ESTC R35149. Grolier, Wither to Prior 987. Wing R1757.
£ 950.00 Antiquates Ref: 19614