The Iliad of Homer [and] The Odyssey of Homer.

First editions of Alexander Pope’s monumental illustrated translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the deluxe subscribers’ quarto issue on thick paper, esteemed by Samuel Johnson as “certainly the noblest version of poetry which the world has ever seen.” Quarto, eleven volumes, uniformly bound in full contemporary speckled calf with gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, modern morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, illustrated with two large copper-engraved frontispiece busts of Homer by George Vertue (one in the Iliad, another in the Odyssey), one double-page map, one folding plate, the "Shield of Achilles" plate in Volume V of the Iliad (often missing), and numerous engraved historiated initials and elaborate head- and tail-pieces. The Iliad extra-illustrated with a folding view of Troy and 38 additional plates from Ogilby's Homer; the Odyssey extra-illustrated with 30 plates; plates cut down, removing any text at the foot. Certainly, Pope's long-lasting literary fame rests to a large degree on the great success and extensive influence of these translations. The six volumes of the Iliad were issued between 1715-20 and the five volumes of the Odyssey between 1725-26. Only 650 copies of the Iliad were printed in quarto for 575 subscribers; with 574 subscribers for the Odyssey. In good condition, extremities rubbed, armorial bookplate to each pastedown.