THOMSON, James. Satires and Profanities. (1884 - FIRST EDITION JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS' COPY - WITH ASTONISHING NOTES)

AUTHOR: THOMSON, James.

TITLE: Satires and Profanities.

PUBLISHER: London: Progressive Publishing Company, 1884.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS' COPY WITH ASTONISHING NOTES. 1 vol., 7-1/4" x 5-1/16", original publisher’s green cloth, with his Symond"s bookplate and a 68-word penciled comment by him about the book on the rear end-paper: "Heavy, dull, elaborately nauseous--like obscene photographs. Easy enough to get similitude of wit, if you indulge in [stirring?] topics which polite writers have avoided. Most of the jokes are on the level of a photo of a big prick or cunt. The best are stories from America..."; with a 5-word marginal comment by Symonds on p. 52 and marginal markings by him on four other pages, additionally inscribed to Symonds "With A.H. Bullen's compts."

CONDITION: Head of spine rubbed with some minor loss, inner and outer hinges fine, internally clean and bright, a VERY GOOD+ copy, housed in a 1/4 maroon slipcase, raised bands, gilt lettered spine, panels tooled in blind.

PROVENANCE: Christie’s Printed Books & Manuscripts including Americana from the Collection of the Hon. J. William Middendorf II. Wednesday, May 17, 1989.
Quinnsale, lot 10227: "There were 3000 copies issued [posthumously], but nearly the entire edition was destroyed by fire."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A. H. Bullen (Arthur Henry Bullen) was a prominent publisher and literary figure who had a significant professional relationship with John Addington Symonds. Bullen published several of Symonds's works, including his influential Shakespearean studies and translations, fostering their connection through shared literary interests in Renaissance poetry and drama, as evidenced by surviving letters.