2 volumes in one 8vo. pp. iv, 305, [2] (inserted), 306-597 [i.e. 599; pp. 367-368 numbered on recto only], [1], f. [1] (blank), [2] (folded). Signatures: [A]² B-T⁸ U⁷+² X-Pp⁸ Qq² (cancels B7, L8, U8, X8, Z6 & 7, Aa2). Original paper wrappers, boxed. Includes folded tables.

First edition. Spurred by the present pseudo-philological essay making the case for the authenticity of the forged “Rowley” poems by Thomas Chatterton, the scholarly and pseudo-scholarly world saw either the need for a negative consensus on its authenticity, or the opportunity for further mischief. Tyrwhitt, who had already capitulated to his own better judgement in an ‘Appendix’ to the 1778 third edition (‘the poems attributed to Rowley [...] were written, not by any ancient author, but entirely by Thomas Chatterton,’ see Bib# 4103365/Fr# 417 in this collection), confirmed his stance in A Vindication of the Appendix (1782, Bib# 2746697/Fr# 435), while Thomas Warton added corroborative details (1782, Bib# 1240679/Fr# 723), William Mason (1782, Bib# 4103383/Fr# 436) and George Hardinge (1782, Bib# 4103388/Fr# 442) provided satirical verse, Rayner Hickford (1782, Bib# 4103389/Fr# 443) and Edward Burnaby Greene (1782, Bib# 4103387/Fr# 441) obstinately espoused the Rowleian cause, and Thomas Mathias gave the inevitable ‘overview’ (1783, Bib# 6276152/Fr# 444).

Observations upon the poems of Thomas Rowle

Observations upon the poems of Thomas Rowle

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