Alexander Pope, 1715-20

POPE, Alexander, translator (1688-1744). The Iliad of Homer. London: W. Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott, 1715-20.

The first edition of Pope’s Iliad. Pope labored over his translation of Homer’s Greek epic poem for over six years, finally publishing it by subscription in six parts between 1715-20. It earned him the grand sum of £5,000, which gave him the means to live independently as a professional author, and would be described by Samuel Johnson as “the greatest version of poetry which the world has ever seen.” The Iliad was followed by his translation of the Odyssey, which appeared in 1925. Wise pp. 12-14.

Six volumes, folio (290 x 185mm). 3 folding plates (including "The Shield of Achilles," not called for in Wise), two pages with 5 engravings, and errata (lacking half title and frontispiece in vol. 1). (Vol. 1 with notes on the edition to title page and facing page, staining to last few leaves and loss to upper corner of last leaf; vol. 4 with stain to margin affecting first 20 or so leaves.) Contemporary calf (some repairs to spines and wear to joints, vol. 2 missing spine label, vol. 5 with a little loss to foot of spine). Provenance: "Price 1804" (ownership inscription) – Abraham T. Lowe (dated 1845; ownership inscription) – Ker Williams Jr (ownership inscription).