[Fine Binding | Bumpus] Hours of Idleness

Byron, Lord George Gordon. Hours of Idleness: A Series of Poems, Original and Illustrated. London: Printed for W.T. Sherwin, 1820. The sixth edition overall, and the first authorized edition. With an engraved frontispiece after J. Halsted. Also with the misprint 'lngth' for 'length' on line 1 of p. 160. Bound in full navy morocco for Bumpus (almost certainly by Riviere & Son) with exquisite inlaid floral red and green mosaic panels to both boards, accented with tiny gilt ringlets, outlined with an inlaid brown morocco border. Similar design to five of six panels of spine, with title and author to second compartment. Top edge gilt; others untrimmed. Narrow turn-ins with gilt ruling and plain white endpapers. Measures approx. 5" x 8.25". Decorative engraved bookplate of Lilian Harmsworth to front pastedown, slightly offset to the fly-leaf, with further offsetting from the turn-ins and the frontispiece. Moderate even toning throughout, with a few occasional spots. A few marks to boards, with some minor repairs to front hinge. Light rubbing to spine.

Byron's first poetry collection, originally published in 1807, featuring reminiscences from home and school, and some Classical translations, including pieces by Catullus, Virgil and Euripides.