BROWNING, Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861).The Seraphim, and other poems. London: Saunders and Otley, 1838.

The first edition of Barrett Browning's third poetry collection. The Wordsworth copy, inscribed by John Kenyon and with William Wordsworth's signature on the fly-leaf. Kenyon, the poet and patron of Robert Browning, has inscribed the book to Mary Hutchinson Wordsworth: “To Mrs Wordsworth from her obliged friend – John Kenyon.” Elizabeth B. Barrett married Robert Browning in the autumn of 1846, eight years after the publication of The Seraphim.

12mo. Half title (a little minor spotting and finger-soiling). Original brown cloth, gold-stamped spine (rebacked with portions of original spine laid down, a little rubbed and soiled). Custom clamshell box. Provenance: Mary Hutchinson Wordsworth, 1770-1859 (gift inscription) – William Wordsworth, Rydal Mount (ownership signature).