Queen Mab

Title: Queen Mab

Author: Shelley, Percy Bysshe

Publication: London: Printed and Published by W. Clark, 1821.

Description: Shelley's epic poem containing a radical critique of organized religion, monarchy, and commerce, with prose notes advocating for free love, atheism, and vegetarianism. First regularly published, but pirate edition (previously printed privately in 1813). Variant issued without dedication leaf and with words expurgated on pp. 146-7. Bound by W. Root & Son of London (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in) in full purple goatskin, covers gilt with floral sprays at the corners within a triple-line fillet frame, spine with five raised bands and gilt in compartments with foliate tools, turn-ins gilt with foliate tools at the corners, board edges with gilt dot roll, top edge gilt, and red ribbon marker. 8.5 x 5.5 inches; 182 pages. Advertisement leaf wanting. From the collection of Arthur Williams Hall (1873–1952) of Massachusetts, bibliophile and manufacturer of laboratory equipment, with his penciled acquisition notes on the front free endpaper; thence by descent through three generations. Binding with moderate edgewear, soiling, and sunning to spine; discoloration to endpaper edges from binding and infrequent light foxing, else a clean interior. Near Fine in a Very Good binding. Scandalous for its time, this book drew the attention of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, and the publisher William Clark was imprisoned for four months for blasphemy. An important work popular with working-class radicals of the 1830s and 1840s. Reference: Granniss, R.S. A descriptive catalogue of the first editions in book form of the writings of Percy Bysshe Shelley, 19.