Beckford (William).- Rogers (Samuel) Human Life, a Poem, second edition, with half-title and final leaf blank but for imprint, William Beckford's copy with 2pp. of pencil notes in his hand on front free endpaper, extra-illustrated with engraved portrait of Rogers by Meyer after Denon and an original watercolour portrait of the same captioned "The Yellow Poet...see Glenarvon" by Beckford in pencil at foot, together with leaves of mounted cuttings of reviews etc. all bound in following half-title or at end, book-label of George Harwood, bound in dark red boards, uncut, rubbed, rebacked preserving old spine with Beckford's gilt cinquefoils and cross patonce ornaments and green roan label, short split to upper joint, corners slightly worn, preserved in modern red morocco-backed cloth drop-back box, by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine with black morocco label and titled in gilt, 8vo, John Murray, 1820.

⁂ With typically caustic notes by Beckford e.g. p.107 commenting on Rogers's lines "That narrow place of noise & strife received their little all of life" Beckford adds "I rather think we also have received Mr Samuel Rogers's little all....".

Beckford's caption to the watercolour portrait refers to Lady Caroline Lamb's Glenarvon, published in 1816, which included veiled but obvious references to the cadaverously thin Rogers as "A poet of an emaciated and sallow complexion".

The gilt cinquefoil and cross patonce ornaments on the spine are from Beckford's mother's Hamilton arms and the first Lord Latimer respectively. Hamilton Palace sale (1883) Part III lot 1434 (Bain £3 12s.).