Thomas Bridges - Homer Complete 2-Volume Illustration Set. - 1797

A Burlesque Translation of Homer (4th Edition, 1797) – Complete 2-Volume Deluxe Leather Set

This exceptional antiquarian lot features the complete two-volume 1797 Fourth Edition of A Burlesque Translation of Homer, a famous and highly witty Georgian satire written by Thomas Bridges. Published in London by G. G. and J. Robinson, this 1797 printing is universally considered by collectors to be the best and most desirable edition because it was heavily expanded and features a significantly higher count of detailed comic illustrations than earlier prints.

The work is a humorous, rowdy, and irreverent parody of Homer’s epic Iliad, rewriting classical Greek heroes and deities into a low-brow, comical Georgian context filled with modern slang and social satire. Both volumes are bound in beautiful, genuine late-18th-century full calf leather with ornate gilt tooling down the spines, standing out as a premier example of classic English satire and period bookbinding.

The Highly Coveted 4th Edition (1797): Widely recognized by antiquarian experts as the definitive version of this work due to its expanded text and superior illustration suite.

Complete 2-Volume Set: Rare to find fully intact with both volumes remaining together in matching contemporary bindings.

Profusely Illustrated: Contains a wealth of humorous full-page copper-plate comic etchings that satirize traditional classical Greek art.

Premium Georgian Bookbinding: Bound in genuine contemporary calf leather with beautiful raised bands and intricate gold floral tooling on the spines, providing immense shelf appeal.

Condition Report:

Overall Rating: Good / Very Good Antique Condition for a literary work over 225 years old.

Cover & Spine: The original full calf boards are structurally sound with rich, deep leather patination. Mild surface rubbing to the panels and minor edge wear consistent with age. Gilt work and labels on the spines remain clearly legible and highly decorative.

Binding: Solid, tight, and completely secure. Hinges are firm, keeping both heavy text blocks tightly bound.

Interior & Plates: The internal pages are remarkably clean with no modern ink annotations. The brilliant copper-plate illustrations remain crisp and clear. Showcases some localized age-toning and a prominent water/tide stain restricted mostly to the lower corner margins of the title pages and initial leaves (as pictured), which does not affect the readability of the text block.

Dimensions: Standard Octavo size (approx. 21.5 cm × 13.5 cm)
Page Count: Complete 2-Volume Set. Volume 1 -360 pp and Volume 2-432pp contain the full text block alongside the complete series of humorous narrative copper-plate engravings.