Lot 270: LLOYD, Charles (1775-1839). Poems on the Death of Priscilla Farmer, by her Grandson Charles Lloyd. Bristol: N. Biggs, sold by James Phillips, 1796.

2 o (364 x 255 mm). 14 leaves. Wove paper watermarked "1794 J WHATMAN". (Some minor marginal soiling and pale spotting.) Modern blue half morocco gilt, marbled boards, edges gilt. Provenance : Liverpool Library (stamps on title and p.11) -- Hannah D. Rabinowitz (morocco bookplate) -- purchased from Scribner Rare Books, New York. Exhibited : Grolier Club, 'This powerfull rime,' 1975, no. 47. FIRST EDITION. ONE OF ONLY A FEW KNOWN COPIES OF THIS RARE FOLIO PAMPHLET. The introductory sonnet on page 3 is written by Coleridge, and Lamb's "The Grandam" appears on pages 25-27. The work was issued with two blank leaves in stabbed-and-sewn wrappers. A letter from Lamb to Coleridge, 9 December 1796, acknowledges receipt of a copy: "I cannot but smile to see my granny so gaily decked forth: though, I think, whoever altered 'thy' praises to 'her' praises -- 'thy' honoured memory to 'her' honoured memory, did wrong; they best expressed my feelings." Roff located three copies, all with "thy praises" and "Her honour'd memory" in lines 27-29 of Lamb's poem. It is unclear how Lamb came to record the reading "her praises" in his copy; and no copy with this alternate reading has been located. Lloyd met Coleridge during the latter's trip to Birmingham to enlist subscribers to his The Watchman (see lot 184). Lloyd was fascinated with Coleridge's conversation, and "proposed even to domesticate with him, and made him such a pecuniary offer that Coleridge immediately acceded to the proposal" (DNB). The arrangement, for œ80 a year, included three hours of instruction every morning. These sessions, though never strictly adhered to, were said by Lloyd to be of great influence. Through Coleridge, Lloyd met Lamb. This series of poems was reprinted in the second edition of Coleridge's Poems, 1797 (see lot 185), with the text of Lamb's "The Grandame" changed to read "Thy honour'd memory." VERY RARE. According to ABPC, the last two copies sold at auction were those of John Gribbel, Parke-Bernet, 31 October 1940, lot 373 (rebound in morocco, original wrappers bound in) and Dr. James B. Clemens, Parke-Bernet, 9 January 1945, lot 307 (rebound in morocco, original marbled wrappers bound-in). Roff/Livingston, pp.11-15.