First edition. A2-H4 in eights, title on A2.
COWPER, William, editor.—Olney Hymns, in three books. Book I. On select Texts of Scripture. Book II. On occasional Subjects. Book III. On the Progress and Changes of the Spiritual Life. . . . London: Printed and Sold by W. Oliver . . . J. Buckland . . . and J. Johnson . . . MDCCLXXIX. 12mo, calf, gilt back, gilt edges, by Bedford.
First edition. Many of the Hymns are by Cowper, and this copy has his autograph on the fly-leaf.
COWPER, William.—Poems by William Cowper, Of the Inner Temple, Esq. . . . London: Printed for J. Johnson, . . . 1782. 8vo, calf, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, by Bedford.
First edition.
COWPER, William.—The History of John Gilpin, As related by the late Mr. Henderson. Shewing How he went farther than he intended, and came Home safe at last. [woodcut] London: Printed for W. Lane, Leadenhall-Street, London: and sold by all other Booksellers. (Price Two-Pence.) [1785]. Small 8vo, brown levant morocco, gilt back, gilt edges, by Rivière.
First printed anonymously in the "Public Advertiser," (November?) 1782. Recited in 1785 in Freemason's Hall by Henderson, the comedian, it attained so great a popularity that it was frequently printed. Cowper wrote to his friend Unwin, November 4, 1782:—"You are perfectly at liberty to deal with them [Gilpin and his feats] as you please. Auctore tantùm anonymo, imprimantur; and when printed, send me a copy."
According to Southey, "The ballad, which had then become the town talk, was reprinted from the newspaper, wherein it had lain three years dormant."
The present edition is in chap-book form, and was presumably published ("Price Two-Pence") in consequence of the popularity of the ballad due to Henderson's recitation of it. There is no means of determining which is the first edition. Probably several editions were published in the present form for distribution when the poem was recited.
COWPER, William.—The History of John Gilpin, How he went farther than he intended, and came Home safe at last. [woodcut] London: Printed for J. Fielding Pater-noster-Row (Price Three-pence.) [1785]. Small 8vo, red levant morocco, Janseniste, gilt edges, by Rivière.