The peacock "at home:" a sequel to the butterfly's ball. Written by a lady.
London.
Printed for J. Harris, 1807.
First edition.
16mo.
16pp. With an engraved frontispiece, and a further five engraved plates. Original publisher's yellow pictorial wrappers. Extremities rubbed, marked, and discoloured. Near contemporary inked gift inscription to verso of upper wrapper, offsetting, scattered spotting.
Catherine Ann Turner Dorset (c.1750-1817), widow of Capt. Michael Dorset and sister of poet Charlotte Smith, whose work Conversations (London, 1804) played host anonymously to Dorset's first appearances in print.
The Peacock became one of the most successful imitations of William Roscoe's Butterfly's Ball, and was frequently reissued until the 1840s. The Gentleman's Magazine (8th Sept, 1807) said of it: 'After the exquisite little poem of Mr. Roscoe...and attempt at a Sequel was indeed an arduous task. But the "Peacock at Home" has afforded us so much pleasure, that we cannot hesitate to class it with the original it professedly imitates'.
The Peacock became one of the most successful imitations of William Roscoe's Butterfly's Ball, and was frequently reissued until the 1840s. The Gentleman's Magazine (8th Sept, 1807) said of it: 'After the exquisite little poem of Mr. Roscoe...and attempt at a Sequel was indeed an arduous task. But the "Peacock at Home" has afforded us so much pleasure, that we cannot hesitate to class it with the original it professedly imitates'.
Moon 215 (1).
£ 375.00
Antiquates Ref: 26047
