Three varieties of the Owl frontispiece are found in the different editions; the first as in this issue, the second in that edition of 1728 which is entirely reset (page 302), and the third in the variorum edition, 1729. Perhaps the simplest method of identification is by means of the legend on the scroll held by the Owl. In variety No. 1, the second line, "Dunci-" has a hyphen at the end; in No. 2 it has not; in No. 3 the second line is the complete word "Dunciad." The Owl in No. 1 is better drawn than in No. 2; the "s" in "Shakeſp." is a long "s" in No. 1, which is not the case in No. 2; all the lettering in No. 1 is smaller than in No. 2. The Owl in No. 3 is more like No. 1 than No. 2 is; "P. & K. Arthur," on the book under the Owl's claws in 1 and 2 is changed to "Gildon & Woolſton" in No. 3; "New-castle" on the back of the book next the floor in 1 and 2 is changed to "Blackmore" in No. 3. The lettering in No. 3 corresponds more nearly in size to No. 1 than does that in No. 2.
The present copy was once owned by Jonathan Richardson, the painter.
Collation: [Signature A unlettered]. Owl frontispiece, No. 1, A1 (recto blank). Title with woodcut of a vase of flowers, A2 (verso blank). "The Publisher to the Reader," A3-A4 and b1. Pages i-viii. Half-title, "The Dunciad in three books," b2 (verso blank). Book 1, B1-C3, in fours. Book II, C4-F2 recto. Book III, F2 verso-H2 (verso blank). Pages 1-51.
POPE, Alexander.—The Dunciad. 1728. 8vo, red levant morocco, gilt back, gilt edges, by F. Bedford.
Another copy, measuring 7-5/8 by 4-5/8 inches.
POPE, Alexander.—(I.) The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. In three books. [woodcut of a vase of flowers] Dublin, Printed, London Re-printed for A. Dodd. 1728. (II.) A Compleat Key to the Dunciad.
How eaſily Two Wits agree,
One finds the Poem; One the Key.
London, Printed for A. Dodd. 1728. (Price 6d.) 12mo, red levant morocco, gilt back, doubled with red morocco, wide border, gilt edges, by Chambolle-Duru.
Second issue of the first edition. "C" of Thoms's list.
The distinguishing mark of this issue is on page 1, line 1 (ending with "who"), where "Book and the man I sing" is corrected to "Books." The text was probably printed from the same forms of type as the first issue, with corrections of some, but not all, typographical irregularities; e.g., on page vii of the Preface the second "i" of the Roman numeral extends above the line in both issues; on page 1, line 1, of the second issue the last letter in "who" has been raised to the line, whereas in the first it is below. On page 5 the same space exists in both issues between "F" and "i" of "First" in the running head-line; on page 23, line 159, the misprint "spirits" occurs in both issues. In the note on page 5 "Interlude" of the first issue is changed to "Enterlude" in the second.