[CORY, William Johnson]. Ionica. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1858.
Bound with:
[CORY, William Johnson]. Ionica II. [printed Cambridge, at the University Press], 1877.
First editions. Two volumes bounds in one. Leather-bound. Hardcover. Octavo (175 x 105 mm.), pp. iv, 116; 50. Beautifully bound in olive green morocco elaborately tooled in gilt, by Roger de Coverly, covers with all-over design of quatrefoils made up of drawer-handle tools and flowers outlined in pointillé against a background of small circles, dots and stars in gilt, all within a border of triple gilt fillet and outer floral roll, spine in compartments with title and pointillé flowers in gilt and five raised bands, signed at foot of front cover, turn-ins with gilt floral decorations, ivory silk moiré doublures and flyleaves, g.e., preserved in modern green cloth drop-back box. Condition: Binding tight and secure, the hinges and covers pristine, book-label to front endpaper and traces of removed bookplate with remainder of contents fresh and clean. Near fine and scarce thus.
Notes: Attractive binding of a volume regarded as the first published work by the Uranians, a group of homosexual poets. William Johnson (later Cory) was a master at Eton who was forced to resign in 1872 following the interception of an indiscreet letter to one of his pupils.
