Book Title: Poems by The Rev. George Crabbe, Volume II (Fifth Edition, 1810)
 
Features
 
Author: Rev. George Crabbe (1754 – 1832). Celebrated English poet, known for his realistic depictions of rural life.
Title: Poems. By The Rev. George Crabbe. In Two Volumes. Volume II only.
Edition: Fifth Edition
Publication Date: 1810
Publisher: Printed for J. Hatchard, Bookseller to Her Majesty, 190 Piccadilly, London.
Printer: Brettell and Co., Marshall-Street, Golden-Square, London.
Provenance: Specially bound for Cranbrook School Library with gilt lettering to the front board and library plate.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
 
George Crabbe was one of the most significant English poets of the late 18th and early 19th century, admired by writers such as Byron, Wordsworth, and Scott for his unflinching realism and moral depth.
 
This volume, the fifth edition of his collected Poems (1810), reflects Crabbe’s growing recognition in literary circles. Unlike romantic contemporaries, Crabbe portrayed rural life with stark honesty, focusing on hardship and human struggle.
 
The provenance of this copy adds particular historical value. It was specially prepared for Cranbrook School Library (Kent, England), a notable grammar school with roots tracing back to the 16th century. The gilt-stamped lettering and bespoke binding for the school underline the prestige of Crabbe’s works in educational institutions of the period. Few such school-specific bindings survive in good condition, making this a collectible example of both educational and literary heritage.
 
Physical Description
 
Binding: Quarter-bound in thick calf leather spine with panelled design; fine textured cloth over boards.
Front Board: Gilt-lettered Cranbrook School Library.
Spine: Gilt titles; inked “I/G/P” near foot.
Edges: Sprinkled edges.
Endpapers: Yellow pastedowns and endpapers.
Pagination: 223 pages.
Dimensions: 16.4 × 11 × 2 cm.
Weight: Approx. 242g.
 
Condition Report
 
Exterior: Robust and intact; light rubbing and wear at edges and spine; gilt lettering still clear.
Interior:
Light foxing, heavier on title and early pages.
Small marks to pp. 4–5.
Very occasional small creases.
Title page with Cranbrook School Library ink stamp.
Front pastedown with school library plate (annotated in pen/pencil) and minor pencil, remnants of pencil on the title page and pen/pencil on next two pages (see photo).
Small remnants of pasted paper on p. 1.
Additional paper strips visible at some inner margins (probably original binding feature).
All 223 pages present, securely bound, no rips.
Overall: A very good and well-preserved example for its age, with notable provenance.