POËSIES DIVERSES

Berlin: Chretien Frederic Voss, [1760]. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo, [4], 305 pages. In Good condition. In full brown mottled leather binding, spine paneled with gilt decorations and gilt lettering on a red morocco label. Gilt ruling on board edges, mostly worn away. Text block edges mottled with attached red ribbon bookmark. Moderate shelf and edge wear to boards, with rubbing on all edges. Exposed board along the top edge of the rear board and in small areas at the fore corners. Covers show chipping near the board edges and mild soiling. Mild splitting and rubbing to the joints, chipping to leather along spine. Text block shows light scuffing on edges, dust soiling on top edge. Lightly age toned, moderately foxed throughout. Front pastedown bears the bookplate of Joachim Murat, who was King of Naples from 1808 to 1815; bookplate is moderately soiled with some surface tearing impacting the illustration. Soiling along the bottom of the front flyleaf; pencil notes on verso. First free endpaper contains handwritten quotes from Voltaire in ink in an unknown hand, in which the philosopher criticizes the poetry of Frederick the Great. Title page has had "du Roy de Prusse" written below the title in black ink, and the year 1760 (the correct year of publication) written below the publisher's roman numerals (which incorrectly read "MDCCIX", or 1709). Ribbon bookmark is discolored and frayed at the free end. RW consignment. Shelved in Room A. . This is the first officially published, widely available edition of Frederick the Great's poetry, which was published contemporaneously to an illustrated Quarto edition. Before this edition, very few volumes of his poetry were privately printed through Frederick's personal press at the palace of Sanssouci. 1403780. Special Collections.