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BROWNING, Elizabeth Barrett.
Poems.
Fourth edition, a fine presentation copy from Browning to John Ruskin, inscribed by her on the front fly leaf of volume one: "To John Ruskin with grateful regard from EBB -1856 London." Ruskin was a great admirer of Elizabeth Browning's poetry and struck up a friendship with her and her husband in 1852. He thereafter saw the couple when they visited London and was a faithful correspondent when they were in Italy, alternately sending lavish praise and polite criticism for their works. Elizabeth's death on 29 June 1861 was a great loss to Ruskin, who wrote to Georgianna Burne-Jones on 20 July: "And there's Mrs. Browning gone, too, who was a friend, and such a one, too; but one must not think about oneself when talking of her, it is all the Earth's loss." This copy is a mixed set containing revisions, a new version of "Casa Guidi Windows," and three previously unpublished poems.
3 volumes, duodecimo. One leaf of publisher's advertisements bound at the end of vol. 3. Vols 1 and 2 bound in original purple cloth, vol. 3 bound in original green cloth, covers blind-stamped, spines gilt-lettered; cloth folding case. Provenance: John Ruskin (presentation inscription from the author in first volume); illegible ownership signature on front free endpaper of vol. 3. Some rubbing and light wear at extremities, spines of vols 1 and 2 lightly sunned.
