William Ernest Henley - A Book of Verses - Signed First Edition

HENLEY, William Ernest (1849-1903).

A Book of Verses.

London: David Nutt, 1888.

SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.xi; [1]; 167; [1]. Publisher's card wraps with yapp edges, printed in gilt to spine and upper. Vignette to title page with tissue guard. Signed by the author to the final page (with an additional inscription possibly in the author's hand to flyleaf).

Contemporary ownership inscription to flyleaf, text underlined and annotated on page 48, otherwise text clean and unblemished, some dustiness and toning to untrimmed edges. Binding sound if a little worn, quite rubbed and darkened to spine with some of the titles lost. Scarce with no other copies currently offered for sale and only occasionally seen at auction. Very good.

The author's first collection of poems including his best known; 'Invictus' which appears untitled on pages 56 and 57.