Poetry.- Davenant (William) Madagascar; with other poems, first edition, woodcut printers' device to title and typographic head- and tail-pieces, lacking initial 3 blanks, imprimatur f., F2-11 and G2-12 (G12 blank), chip to lower margin of title, C1 outer margin torn, affecting a few letters verso, spotting and staining, lightly browned, later sheep, remains of tape to covers, a few wormholes, rubbed and scuffed, [STC 6304; Grolier Wither to Prior 243; Pforzheimer 258; ESTC S109308], Printed by Iohn Haviland for Thomas Walkly, and are to be sold at his shop at the Flying Horse neare Yorke house, 1638; and 7 others, defective 17th century English poetry, including James Shirley (Poems, 1646), James Howell, and John Cleveland, v.s. (8) sold not subject to return.

⁂ The first mentioned is rare at auction in any condition. It is the author's first published volume of poetry and includes his 'In remembrance of Master William Shakespeare' (Davenant claimed to be an illegitimate son of the playwright). In 1638 Davenant replaced Ben Jonson as Poet Laureate.