Sidney (Sir Philip) The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia... Now since the First Edition augmented and ended, first complete edition, a composite copy, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, occasional contemporary and later ink marginalia, including pen trials (majority trimmed), lacking [par.]1-4 (the first blank, the second the title, the third a dedication f., and the fourth 'To the Reader'), all supplied in facsimile, first c.54 and a further c.18 ff. neatly silked, the majority of these with neatly repaired lower corners, several of which affecting text, which is supplied in modern manuscript (see in particular sig. A; upper corner of final f. also repaired with a few words supplied), some wormholes / small traces in places, repairs, trimmed (affecting some headlines), some water-staining, a few ink smudges, occasional spotting, lightly browned, modern brown calf, spine in compartments and with gilt title, small folio, [STC 22540; ESTC S111872], Printed [by John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, 1593.

⁂ Rare at auction in any state, with only a handful of copies appearing since 1931 (the last in 1964, lacking 9 ff.). The first edition of 1590 (published posthumously) ends abruptly in the middle of a sword fight in the third book. Sidney's sister (the Countess of Pembroke) subsequently discovered the drafts of the fourth and fifth books, published here for the first time.

Provenance: Mary and John Finch (17th century inscriptions to final verso); 'Mary Johnson. 1769. Workington' (inscription to upper margin of A1).