12mo. [4], 174pp, [6]. With three terminal leaves of publisher's advertisements. Bound by J. Doyle of Dublin (ticket to FEP) in later dark green half-roan, tooled in gilt and blind, brown cloth boards, lettered in gilt to upper board. Rubbed, head of upper joint split. Upper hinge exposed, book-label of Lt.-Col. Mockler to FEP, pencilled ownership inscription of Elliot Mockler and inked inscription of Elgin Mockler to title page and head of contents leaf respectively, short tear to leaf F6, very occasional inked and pencilled annotations and highlights, scattered spotting.

The first edition of a popular work - which reached a third edition in 1817 - by English romantic poet and novelist Jane Taylor (1783-1824). Responsible, with her sister Ann, for some of the best known of nineteenth-century nursery poetry, the Taylors are perhaps best known for the first verse of her 'The Star', which commences 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'.

The publication of this work marked a departure for Jane Taylor; it was the first of hers directed entirely at an adult audience. Socially satirical, frequently exposing the follies of those in high society, often through a mirror of decidedly middle-class moralism, her critics compared the work to outputs by Crabbe and Cowper, with the Eclectic Review praising her 'feminine style'. The first and lengthiest of the thirteen poetic essays in this volume deals, rather aptly given the publication of her contemporary Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in 1814, with 'Prejudice'.

The terminal advertisements present in this copy, which list several further works by the same author, are revealing not only of the commerciality of Taylor's works but also echo the critical acclaim which they received. The advertisements for her Display, a tale (London, 1815) is accompanied by two lengthy and praiseworthy excerpts from the Eclectic Review and Monthly Review respectively.