The Poems of Mr. Gray. To Which are Added Memoirs of his Life and Writings. In Four Volumes

York: A. Ward, Printer, 1778. Leather. Poor/No Jacket. Full speckled/spotted leather. 169; xv, 161; xii, 166; xiv, 239. Frontis portrait at the beginning of volume 1. A four volume edition of the poetry of Thomas Gray, as well as a biography and essay on his work. With the armorial bookplate of Francis Ormond French on the inside front cover of each volume. Thomas Gray was an 18th century English poet, perhaps best known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard. POOR to GOOD condition, depending on the volume. Front cover of volume 1 VERY TENUOUSLY attached, perhaps becoming detached with any further handling. Front cover and first endpaper of volume 4 DETACHED. Volume 3's front cover somewhat tenuously attached. Uneven fading and darkening to the covers, with minor soiling and scuffing. Some cracking and scuffing to the leather. Hinges cracked and splitting along all 4 volumes. All spines chipped, flaking, cracking and worn, with labels missing. Text blocks solid. General minor browning and scattered foxing in the interior. Ownership signature in volume one, as well as a bookseller/bookbinder label, that of Sollers of Blandford. Two page handwritten poem at the end of volume 3, with remains of a black residue that had presumably once sealed the pages shut, at several spots along the fore edge. This has also resulted in some tearing/chipping in those locales.