Canonical British poet and scholar (1716–1771) best known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, which introduced to the English language such now-familiar phrases as “the paths of glory” and “far from the madding crowd.” Signed book bearing Gray’s ownership signature: Rhetoricies Contractae sive Partitionum Oratorium, Libri V, by Gerardi Joannis Vossi. Paris: Claudii Thiboust & Petrum Esclassan, 1671. Early gilt-stamped calf with custom red morocco slipcase, 4 x 6, 444 pages. Signed on the title page in black ink, “T: [book’s printed title] Gray”; a small slip tipped to the rear blank bears Gray’s notation “Cost me 0-0-2.” Mild scattered toning and foxing, expert restorations to binding, and inside front cover with affixed collector’s bookplate [William Harris Arnold] and an early slip from auction catalogue describing the book, and wear and soiling to boards and spine. RRAuction COA.
